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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Honolulu-Windward-Pearl Harbor

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

 

129

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
2014ND500ND
2015ND100ND
2016ND40ND
2017ND520ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND50ND

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
2014-02-19201402210438ND
2014-04-01201404030466ND
2014-04-01201404030467ND
2014-04-01201404030468ND
2014-04-01201404030469ND
2014-04-02201404040550ND
2014-04-02201404040551ND
2014-04-02201404040552ND
2014-04-02201404040553ND
2014-04-02201404040554ND
2014-04-04201404080620ND
2014-04-04201404080621ND
2014-04-07201404090482ND
2014-04-07201404090483ND
2014-04-07201404090484ND
2014-04-07201404090485ND
2014-04-08201404100546ND
2014-04-08201404100547ND
2014-04-08201404100549ND
2014-04-08201404100550ND
2014-04-08201404100551ND
2014-04-09201404120256ND
2014-04-09201404120257ND
2014-04-09201404120258ND
2014-04-11201404150363ND
2014-04-14201404160551ND
2014-04-14201404160552ND
2014-04-14201404160553ND
2014-04-14201404160554ND
2014-04-14201404160555ND
2014-04-14201404160556ND
2014-04-15201404170340ND
2014-04-15201404170341ND
2014-04-15201404170342ND
2014-04-15201404170344ND
2014-04-16201404180401ND
2014-04-16201404180402ND
2014-04-16201404180403ND
2014-04-16201404180404ND
2014-04-16201404180405ND
2014-04-16201404180406ND
2014-04-21201404230599ND
2014-04-22201404240273ND
2014-04-22201404240274ND
2014-04-23201404250201ND
2014-04-23201404250202ND
2014-04-28201404300621ND
2014-05-06201405080376ND
2014-07-21201407230644ND
2014-08-19201408220168ND
2015-02-09201502110395ND
2015-02-10201502120276ND
2015-04-13201504140137ND
2015-04-20201504210283ND
2015-05-04201505060108ND
2015-05-27201505290083ND
2015-07-08201507100093ND
2015-08-18201508200479ND
2015-10-19201510140073ND
2015-12-28201512180363ND
2016-02-09ND
2016-05-02ND
2016-05-04ND
2016-10-28ND
2017-02-14ND
2017-04-03ND
2017-04-03ND
2017-04-05ND
2017-04-05ND
2017-04-11ND
2017-04-11ND
2017-04-11ND
2017-04-11ND
2017-04-17ND
2017-04-17ND
2017-04-18ND
2017-04-18ND
2017-04-19ND
2017-04-19ND
2017-04-19ND
2017-04-19ND
2017-04-19ND
2017-04-19ND
2017-04-20ND
2017-05-01ND
2017-05-01ND
2017-05-02ND
2017-05-03ND
2017-05-03ND
2017-05-03ND
2017-05-03ND
2017-05-03ND
2017-05-04ND
2017-05-09ND
2017-05-09ND
2017-05-09ND
2017-05-10ND
2017-05-10ND
2017-05-11ND
2017-05-16ND
2017-05-16ND
2017-05-17ND
2017-05-22ND
2017-05-22ND
2017-05-22ND
2017-05-22ND
2017-05-22ND
2017-05-23ND
2017-05-23ND
2017-05-24ND
2017-05-30ND
2017-06-05ND
2017-06-05ND
2017-06-06ND
2017-06-07ND
2017-06-13ND
2018-02-12201801080281ND
2018-02-20201801290307ND
2018-03-28201803300306ND
2018-04-23201804270354ND
2018-04-24201804260440ND
2018-05-30201805230584ND
2018-07-25201807270183ND
2018-08-08201808110152ND
2019-07-09201906200200ND
2019-09-18201909200252ND
2019-09-25201909270220ND
2019-10-29201910310278ND
2019-12-24201912180100ND