Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

City of Pocatello

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.

 

64

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

7

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.202 ppb93ND - 0.770 ppb
2019ND160ND
20200.178 ppb82ND - 0.810 ppb
20210.0725 ppb81ND - 0.580 ppb
2022ND150ND
20230.0688 ppb81ND - 0.550 ppb

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

Date Lab ID Result
2018-05-02VI805023010.550 ppb
2018-09-26VI80927602ND
2018-09-26VI80927601ND
2018-09-26VI80927608ND
2018-09-26VI809276070.770 ppb
2018-09-26VI80927606ND
2018-09-26VI809276050.500 ppb
2018-09-26VI80927604ND
2018-09-26VI80927603ND
2019-10-08VI91008806ND
2019-10-08VI91009208ND
2019-10-08VI91009207ND
2019-10-08VI91009206ND
2019-10-08VI91009205ND
2019-10-08VI91009204ND
2019-10-08VI91009203ND
2019-10-08VI91009202ND
2019-10-08VI91009201ND
2019-10-08VI91008808ND
2019-10-08VI91008807ND
2019-10-08VI91008805ND
2019-10-08VI91008804ND
2019-10-08VI91008803ND
2019-10-08VI91008802ND
2019-10-08VI91008801ND
2020-05-11VI00507315ND
2020-05-11VI00507314ND
2020-05-11VI005073130.610 ppb
2020-05-11VI00507309ND
2020-05-11VI005073060.810 ppb
2020-05-11VI00507304ND
2020-05-11VI00507303ND
2020-05-11VI00507308ND
2021-08-10VI108135070.580 ppb
2021-08-10VI10813504ND
2021-08-10VI10813505ND
2021-08-10VI10813501ND
2021-08-10VI10813502ND
2021-08-10VI10813503ND
2021-08-10VI10813506ND
2021-08-10VI10813508ND
2022-10-12VI21012906ND
2022-10-12VI21013001ND
2022-10-12VI21012802ND
2022-10-12VI21012801ND
2022-10-12VI21012912ND
2022-10-12VI21012911ND
2022-10-12VI21012910ND
2022-10-12VI21012909ND
2022-10-12VI21012908ND
2022-10-12VI21012907ND
2022-10-12VI21012905ND
2022-10-12VI21012904ND
2022-10-12VI21012903ND
2022-10-12VI21012902ND
2022-10-12VI21012901ND
2023-10-11VI31012801ND
2023-10-11VI31012802ND
2023-10-11VI31012803ND
2023-10-11VI310128050.550 ppb
2023-10-11VI31012806ND
2023-10-11VI31012807ND
2023-10-11VI31012808ND
2023-10-11VI31012809ND