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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Waterworks District 7

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

 

40

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND200ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND200ND

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
2016-12-0535281860010ND
2016-12-0535281860001ND
2016-12-0535281860010ND
2016-12-0535281860009ND
2016-12-0535281860008ND
2016-12-0535281860007ND
2016-12-0535281860006ND
2016-12-0535281860005ND
2016-12-0535281860004ND
2016-12-0535281860003ND
2016-12-0535281860002ND
2016-12-0535281860001ND
2016-12-0535281860002ND
2016-12-0535281860003ND
2016-12-0535281860004ND
2016-12-0535281860005ND
2016-12-0535281860006ND
2016-12-0535281860007ND
2016-12-0535281860008ND
2016-12-0535281860009ND
2019-11-1935514133001ND
2019-11-1935514133010ND
2019-11-1935514133009ND
2019-11-1935514133008ND
2019-11-1935514133007ND
2019-11-1935514133006ND
2019-11-1935514133005ND
2019-11-1935514133004ND
2019-11-1935514133003ND
2019-11-1935514133002ND
2019-11-1935514133001ND
2019-11-1935514133010ND
2019-11-1935514133009ND
2019-11-1935514133008ND
2019-11-1935514133007ND
2019-11-1935514133006ND
2019-11-1935514133005ND
2019-11-1935514133004ND
2019-11-1935514133003ND
2019-11-1935514133002ND