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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

City of Stockton

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.

 

29

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND150ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND120ND

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
2014-06-045810-094-0900ND
2014-11-185810-084-0940ND
2016-08-175867-037-1100ND
2016-08-175867-040-1130ND
2016-08-175867-038-1030ND
2016-08-185867-100-0940ND
2016-08-185867-046-0830ND
2016-08-185867-098-0900ND
2016-08-185867-092-1020ND
2016-08-245867-094-0930ND
2016-08-245867-083-1100ND
2016-08-245867-084-1015ND
2016-08-245867-087-0830ND
2016-08-255867-003-0927ND
2016-08-255867-089-1030ND
2016-08-255867-055-1101ND
2016-09-075867-096-0840ND
2019-08-061610-092-0910ND
2019-08-061610-096-1000ND
2019-08-061610-046-0840ND
2019-08-061610-098-0800ND
2019-08-131610-084-1010ND
2019-08-131610-087-0750ND
2019-08-131610-083-1105ND
2019-08-131610-055-1050ND
2019-08-131610-094-0930ND
2019-08-131610-040-0910ND
2019-08-131610-037-0810ND
2019-08-131610-038-0845ND