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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

City of Torrance Water Department

Dry cleaning chemical tetrachloroethylene, or perc, can cause cancer. It pollutes soil and groundwater due to emissions from dry cleaning facilities, and automotive, metalworking and other industries. Read More.

The EPA considers tetrachloroethylene a likely human carcinogen. It has been linked with increased incidence of lung, breast and colon cancers. Tetrachloroethylene also damages the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.06 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 80 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 5 parts per billion.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

66

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND130ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND180ND
2019ND180ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.06 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.06 ppb for tetrachloroethylene 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 tetrachloroethylene, established in 1991, 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 tetrachloroethylene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-059588-016-0950ND
2014-02-059588-011-1015ND
2014-02-059588-009-1008ND
2014-04-229588-016-1025ND
2014-06-249588-011-1008ND
2014-06-249588-009-1008ND
2014-06-249588-009-1000ND
2014-07-309588-016-1035ND
2014-07-309588-011-1020ND
2014-07-309588-010-1015ND
2014-07-309588-009-1010ND
2014-11-259588-016-1000ND
2014-12-309588-009-1010ND
2015-03-319588-009-0901ND
2015-03-319588-016-0922ND
2015-04-219588-009-0933ND
2015-05-209588-016-0930ND
2015-07-299588-009-0934ND
2015-07-299588-016-1004ND
2015-10-289588-009-0926ND
2015-10-289588-016-0951ND
2016-02-239588-016-0932ND
2016-03-029588-009-0919ND
2016-05-129588-009-0906ND
2016-05-129588-016-0930ND
2016-09-279588-016-0910ND
2017-01-319588-016-0920ND
2017-04-199588-016-0915ND
2017-10-043761-009-1330ND
2017-10-109588-016-0933ND
2018-01-309588-016-0930ND
2018-02-239588-024-0955ND
2018-02-239588-023-0935ND
2018-04-199588-016-0950ND
2018-06-149588-010-0945ND
2018-06-149588-011-0940ND
2018-06-149588-024-0935ND
2018-06-149588-023-1012ND
2018-08-029588-023-1000ND
2018-08-029588-010-0940ND
2018-08-029588-024-0933ND
2018-08-029588-011-0942ND
2018-08-029588-016-1030ND
2018-11-089588-023-0948ND
2018-11-089588-011-1045ND
2018-11-089588-016-1005ND
2018-11-089588-010-1020ND
2018-11-089588-024-1037ND
2019-01-239588-011-0945ND
2019-01-239588-010-0948ND
2019-01-239588-016-1033ND
2019-01-239588-024-0940ND
2019-01-239588-023-1010ND
2019-05-019588-024-0934ND
2019-05-019588-010-0945ND
2019-05-019588-016-0957ND
2019-05-019588-011-0940ND
2019-08-149588-010-0933ND
2019-08-149588-016-1130ND
2019-08-149588-023-0955ND
2019-08-149588-011-0929ND
2019-10-309588-024-0928ND
2019-10-309588-010-0935ND
2019-10-309588-016-1028ND
2019-10-309588-023-1005ND
2019-10-309588-011-0950ND