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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.

 

36

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND60ND
2015ND90ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND50ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

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
2014-05-15S554739ND
2014-08-07S574789ND
2014-11-14S589918ND
2014-12-22S612352ND
2014-12-22S612350ND
2014-12-22S612348ND
2015-05-05S617092ND
2015-05-05S617091ND
2015-05-05S617093ND
2015-05-05S617094ND
2015-08-26S621279ND
2015-12-28S654303ND
2015-12-28S654302ND
2015-12-28S654301ND
2015-12-28S654300ND
2016-06-22S676751ND
2016-06-22S676753ND
2016-06-22S676752ND
2016-06-22S676749ND
2016-09-22S684676ND
2016-09-22S676765ND
2016-12-29S693901ND
2016-12-29S693900ND
2017-03-30S724926ND
2017-08-03S750564ND
2017-08-30S750562ND
2017-08-30S750560ND
2017-08-30S750566ND
2018-12-06S816924ND
2018-12-06S816921ND
2018-12-06S816920ND
2018-12-06S816918ND
2019-12-18S932357ND
2019-12-18S932362ND
2019-12-18S932360ND
2019-12-18S932358ND