Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Trichloroethylene

Claflin, City of

Trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent and common groundwater pollutant, damages the immune system, harms the developing fetus and causes cancer. Read More.

Trichloroethylene was once commonly used to remove grease from metal parts, such as steel pipes and engines, and as a solvent in dry cleaning and carpet cleaning products. Drinking trichloroethylene-contaminated drinking water has been linked with birth defects, leukemia, and liver and kidney damage. Trichloroethylene is highly volatile and can enter indoor air through water in pipes. If trichloroethylene is present, people can inhale it while bathing, washing dishes and doing other household activities that involve water.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

31

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for trichloroethylene was defined by the state of Minnesota as health risk limit, the concentration of a contaminant that can be consumed with little or no risk to health. This health guideline protects against harm to the developing fetus and damage to the immune system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 5 ppb

The legal limit for trichloroethylene, 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 and harm to the developing fetus.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-02-26906998ND
2018-02-26906999ND
2018-10-211064829ND
2018-10-211064830ND
2018-10-211064831ND
2019-02-251126128ND
2019-02-251126129ND
2019-02-251126130ND
2019-04-151138049ND
2019-07-161205463ND
2019-10-151259661ND
2020-01-271314670ND
2020-02-251330198ND
2020-02-251330199ND
2020-04-141357229ND
2020-07-141441598ND
2021-02-231778336ND
2021-02-231778337ND
2021-03-161796813ND
2021-08-171920544ND
2021-09-211964204ND
2021-11-162027744ND
2022-02-152194828ND
2022-05-242264135ND
2022-08-302346000ND
2022-09-202362177ND
2022-11-292404795ND
2023-02-272455978ND
2023-05-242506133ND
2023-08-302566144ND
2023-11-282615995ND