Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Chloroform

Lacrosse, City of

Chloroform, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Chloroform and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Read More.

In addition to tap water disinfection, chloroform pollution in the environment also comes from industrial discharges from pulp and paper mills, and from urban wastewater effluent. Human studies show that chloroform damages the kidneys, liver and central nervous system. In animals, chloroform causes infertility, birth defects and cancer.

Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

8

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
20190.950 ppb21ND - 1.90 ppb
20200.138 ppb41ND - 0.550 ppb
20210.408 ppb42ND - 0.940 ppb
20220.475 ppb43ND - 0.660 ppb
20230.170 ppb41ND - 0.680 ppb

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 chloroform was based on the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-07-151006325ND
2019-07-1512036691.90 ppb
2019-10-141259682ND
2020-01-131309750ND
2020-04-2013599940.550 ppb
2020-07-121438885ND
2020-10-121595131ND
2021-01-181747939ND
2021-04-181820552ND
2021-07-1118803040.690 ppb
2021-10-1919976740.940 ppb
2022-01-0921288740.660 ppb
2022-04-1022345120.630 ppb
2022-07-102299636ND
2022-10-0923773440.610 ppb
2023-01-162433199ND
2023-04-092480428ND
2023-07-3125474610.680 ppb
2023-10-092589845ND