Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Gowc North Water System

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.

 

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: 0.06 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
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