Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Carbon tetrachloride

Gowc North Water System

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.

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A
2020ND10ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND70ND
2023ND70ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2020-12-0235596280001ND
2021-02-0135608834004ND
2021-05-0335630681004ND
2021-05-0335630681005ND
2022-02-0935696474003ND
2022-02-0935696474004ND
2022-04-0435708518003ND
2022-04-0435708518004ND
2022-09-2735750438002ND
2022-10-2435755885002ND
2022-10-2435755885001ND
2023-01-2335774809001ND
2023-01-2735777481001ND
2023-02-2235781903001ND
2023-04-0335790249001ND
2023-04-0335790249002ND
2023-07-1035812564001ND
2023-07-1035812564002ND