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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

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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.

 

48

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND80ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND80ND

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
2014-03-26BG23521VOC1ND
2014-03-26BG23520VOC1ND
2014-06-24BG64509VOC1ND
2014-06-24BG64508VOC1ND
2014-09-26BH20023VOC1ND
2014-09-26BH20024VOC1ND
2014-10-16BH28467VOC1ND
2014-10-16BH28468VOC1ND
2015-01-15BH63717VOC1ND
2015-01-15BH63718VOC1ND
2015-04-30BJ10117VOC1ND
2015-04-30BJ10118VOC1ND
2015-07-10BJ44676VOC1ND
2015-07-10BJ44675VOC1ND
2015-10-19BK10275VOC1ND
2015-10-19BK10276VOC1ND
2016-01-28BK58725VOC1ND
2016-01-28BK58726VOC1ND
2016-04-14BN13921VOC1ND
2016-04-14BN13922VOC1ND
2016-07-14BN72967VOC1ND
2016-07-14BN72968VOC1ND
2016-10-06BV39864VOC1ND
2016-10-06BV39865VOC1ND
2017-01-05BX16401VOC1ND
2017-01-05BX16402VOC1ND
2017-04-20BY07563VOC1ND
2017-04-20BY07564VOC1ND
2017-07-06BY52781VOC1ND
2017-07-06BY52782VOC1ND
2017-10-05BZ15701VOC1ND
2017-10-05BZ15702VOC1ND
2018-01-11BZ71421VOC1ND
2018-01-11BZ71422VOC1ND
2018-04-05CA14772VOC1ND
2018-04-05CA14773VOC1ND
2018-07-16CA90748ND
2018-07-16CA90749ND
2018-10-11CB69892ND
2018-10-11CB69893ND
2019-02-05CC40790ND
2019-02-05CC40791ND
2019-04-08CC90374ND
2019-04-08CC90375ND
2019-07-22CD62263ND
2019-07-22CD62264ND
2019-10-17CE42740ND
2019-10-17CE42741ND