Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission

NOTE: East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission purchases water from New London Department of Public Utilities which is required to test for tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene). Sample information shown below was taken by New London Department of Public Utilities.

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.

 

6

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND100ND
2019ND100ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND60ND
2023ND70ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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

NOTE: East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission purchases water from New London Department of Public Utilities which is required to test for tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene). Sample information shown below was taken by New London Department of Public Utilities.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-11-2928423VOC1ND
2019-11-2030476VOC1ND
2020-12-0132749VOC1ND
2021-10-2734804VOC1ND
2022-09-1536585VOC1ND
2023-09-1438755VOC1ND