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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

El Monte Water Department

Carbon tetrachloride, a volatile carcinogenic solvent, has been used in industrial chemical production and as a dry cleaning ingredient. Read More.

Carbon tetrachloride is no longer permitted in products intended for home use in the U.S. In the past, it was widely used as a dry cleaning ingredient, fire extinguishing chemical, pesticide and chemical intermediate for manufacturing refrigerants. Carbon tetrachloride does not break down easily and can remain in groundwater for years. In addition to increasing cancer risk, carbon tetrachloride harms the liver and causes central nervous system depression, irregular heart rate, and kidney damage. Maternal exposure to carbon tetrachloride in drinking water has been associated with a risk of birth defects.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

51

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND10ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND30ND
20190.0134 ppb411ND - 0.550 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for carbon tetrachloride was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 ppb

The legal limit for carbon tetrachloride, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to carbon tetrachloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-289588-006-1035ND
2014-07-289588-009-1030ND
2015-01-139588-006-1015ND
2016-01-119588-006-1045ND
2016-07-079588-009-0950ND
2017-01-309588-006-1350ND
2017-08-039588-009-0945ND
2018-01-259588-006-1130ND
2018-07-259588-009-1300ND
2018-10-319588-009-1005ND
2019-01-319588-006-1050ND
2019-05-289588-044-1240ND
2019-05-289588-043-1310ND
2019-05-289588-045-12550.550 ppb
2019-07-259588-009-1430ND
2019-11-054792-051-0950ND
2019-11-054792-052-0955ND
2019-11-054792-043-1050ND
2019-11-054792-047-0945ND
2019-11-054792-046-0940ND
2019-11-054792-044-1025ND
2019-11-054792-045-1040ND
2019-11-124792-046-1045ND
2019-11-124792-052-1055ND
2019-11-124792-051-1050ND
2019-11-214792-046-0805ND
2019-11-214792-052-0815ND
2019-11-214792-051-0810ND
2019-11-264792-046-1035ND
2019-11-264792-052-1045ND
2019-11-264792-051-1040ND
2019-12-039588-045-1335ND
2019-12-054792-043-0815ND
2019-12-054792-045-0750ND
2019-12-054792-052-0855ND
2019-12-054792-044-0730ND
2019-12-054792-051-0850ND
2019-12-054792-047-0845ND
2019-12-054792-046-0840ND
2019-12-104792-051-1045ND
2019-12-104792-052-1035ND
2019-12-104792-046-1030ND
2019-12-174792-051-1025ND
2019-12-174792-046-1020ND
2019-12-174792-052-1030ND
2019-12-234792-051-1025ND
2019-12-234792-046-1020ND
2019-12-234792-052-1030ND
2019-12-304792-051-0825ND
2019-12-304792-046-0820ND
2019-12-304792-052-0835ND