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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Fruitridge Vista Water Company

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.

 

96

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND110ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND130ND
2017ND190ND
20180.0542 ppb192ND - 0.520 ppb
2019ND220ND

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
2014-01-085810-004-1348ND
2014-01-085810-005-1256ND
2014-01-085810-017-1029ND
2014-01-085810-016-1110ND
2014-01-085810-014-1413ND
2014-04-105810-005-1207ND
2014-04-105810-018-1139ND
2014-05-085810-020-1119ND
2014-05-085810-019-1047ND
2014-07-105810-005-1241ND
2014-10-095810-005-1156ND
2015-01-085810-006-1309ND
2015-01-085810-014-1243ND
2015-01-085810-010-0918ND
2015-01-085810-008-0712ND
2015-01-085810-005-1130ND
2015-01-085810-004-1218ND
2015-04-085810-005-1227ND
2015-04-085810-006-1343ND
2015-07-095810-005-1052ND
2015-07-095810-006-1201ND
2015-10-155810-005-1118ND
2015-10-155810-006-1245ND
2016-01-065810-009-1030ND
2016-01-065810-003-1206ND
2016-01-065810-007-1110ND
2016-01-065810-004-1219ND
2016-01-065810-013-0830ND
2016-01-065810-014-1244ND
2016-01-065810-005-1152ND
2016-01-125810-006-0918ND
2016-04-075810-005-1219ND
2016-04-075810-006-1347ND
2016-07-075810-005-1059ND
2016-10-135810-006-1116ND
2016-10-135810-005-1014ND
2017-01-195810-020-0838ND
2017-01-195810-014-1520ND
2017-01-195810-018-1300ND
2017-01-195810-017-0940ND
2017-01-195810-005-1345ND
2017-01-195810-016-1055ND
2017-01-235810-004-1029ND
2017-01-235810-019-1105ND
2017-04-135810-006-1426ND
2017-04-135810-005-1226ND
2017-04-135810-014-1348ND
2017-04-195810-004-1448ND
2017-07-135810-006-1253ND
2017-07-135810-014-1215ND
2017-07-135810-005-1120ND
2017-07-135810-004-1136ND
2017-10-125810-014-1239ND
2017-10-125810-005-1200ND
2017-10-125810-004-1223ND
2018-01-115810-004-1241ND
2018-01-115810-005-1200ND
2018-01-115810-014-1310ND
2018-01-115810-010-0910ND
2018-01-115810-008-0727ND
2018-01-115810-006-13550.510 ppb
2018-04-125810-014-1210ND
2018-04-125810-004-1158ND
2018-04-125810-005-1125ND
2018-04-125810-007-1029ND
2018-04-125810-006-12440.520 ppb
2018-07-185810-014-1248ND
2018-07-185810-006-1328ND
2018-07-185810-005-1215ND
2018-07-185810-004-1240ND
2018-10-045810-014-1240ND
2018-10-045810-006-1311ND
2018-10-045810-004-1217ND
2018-10-045810-005-1152ND
2019-01-105810-010-0920ND
2019-01-105810-004-1150ND
2019-01-105810-005-1123ND
2019-01-105810-006-1238ND
2019-01-105810-008-0725ND
2019-01-105810-014-1207ND
2019-02-155810-003-0941ND
2019-02-155810-007-0934ND
2019-02-155810-009-0914ND
2019-04-115810-005-1028ND
2019-04-115810-004-1056ND
2019-04-115810-014-1116ND
2019-04-115810-006-1142ND
2019-06-255810-013-1400ND
2019-07-115810-005-1058ND
2019-07-115810-014-1130ND
2019-07-115810-004-1118ND
2019-07-115810-006-1203ND
2019-10-175810-005-1127ND
2019-10-175810-004-1150ND
2019-10-175810-006-1229ND
2019-10-175810-014-1206ND