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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Meriden Water Division

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

 

76

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND150ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND90ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND150ND
2019ND140ND

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
2014-01-02BF94398VOC1ND
2014-01-16BF99879VOC1ND
2014-03-13BG18736VOC1ND
2014-03-13BG18740VOC1ND
2014-04-16BG33991VOC1ND
2014-04-16BG33992VOC1ND
2014-07-10BG72735VOC1ND
2014-07-10BG72736VOC1ND
2014-07-10BG72734VOC1ND
2014-07-10BG72733VOC1ND
2014-07-10BG72732VOC1ND
2014-07-10BG72731VOC1ND
2014-07-10BG72730VOC1ND
2014-10-09BH25466VOC1ND
2014-10-09BH25467VOC1ND
2015-01-15BH63607VOC1ND
2015-01-15BH63608VOC1ND
2015-04-09BJ00527VOC1ND
2015-06-18BJ33377VOC1ND
2015-06-18BJ33381VOC1ND
2015-06-18BJ33380VOC1ND
2015-06-18BJ33379VOC1ND
2015-06-18BJ33378VOC1ND
2015-06-18BJ33375VOC1ND
2015-06-18BJ33376VOC1ND
2015-07-22BJ62367VOC1ND
2015-10-22BK12423VOC1ND
2015-11-19BK25835VOC1ND
2016-03-03BK72987VOC1ND
2016-04-14BN13851VOC1ND
2016-06-30BN65088VOC1ND
2016-06-30BN65089VOC1ND
2016-06-30BN65090VOC1ND
2016-06-30BN65091VOC1ND
2016-06-30BN65092VOC1ND
2016-06-30BN65093VOC1ND
2016-07-14BN73019VOC1ND
2017-04-06BY00212VOC1ND
2017-06-15BY40613VOC1ND
2017-06-15BY40610VOC1ND
2017-06-15BY40611VOC1ND
2017-06-15BY40612VOC1ND
2017-06-22BY44703VOC1ND
2017-06-29BY50178VOC1ND
2017-07-20BY68706VOC1ND
2017-08-17BY86088VOC1ND
2017-10-05BZ15616VOC1ND
2018-01-18BZ74951VOC1ND
2018-05-17CA49083VOC1ND
2018-07-19CA94411ND
2018-07-19CA94413ND
2018-07-19CA94412ND
2018-07-19CA94410ND
2018-07-26CA98719ND
2018-08-09CB08263ND
2018-08-23CB17441ND
2018-09-20CB35508ND
2018-09-20CB35511ND
2018-09-27CB59877ND
2018-10-11CB69872ND
2018-11-14CB97371ND
2018-12-07CC11054ND
2019-02-06CC41805ND
2019-04-25CD01551ND
2019-05-08CD09272ND
2019-06-19CD38012ND
2019-06-19CD38011ND
2019-06-19CD38010ND
2019-06-26CD42474ND
2019-06-26CD42475ND
2019-06-26CD42476ND
2019-07-10CD53533ND
2019-08-07CD80098ND
2019-09-04CD97370ND
2019-10-02CE25548ND
2019-11-06CE55216ND