Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Farmerville 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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND140ND
2019N/A00N/A
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND110ND
2022N/A00N/A
2023N/A00N/A

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
2018-04-2535388787005ND
2018-04-2535388787001ND
2018-04-2535388787002ND
2018-04-2535388787003ND
2018-04-2535388787004ND
2018-04-2535388787005ND
2018-04-2535388787004ND
2018-04-2535388787003ND
2018-04-2535388787001ND
2018-04-2535388787002ND
2018-05-1535392914002ND
2018-05-1535392914002ND
2018-05-1535392914001ND
2018-05-1535392914001ND
2021-05-1935634912001ND
2021-05-1935634912002ND
2021-05-1935634912003ND
2021-05-2035635259001ND
2021-05-2035635259002ND
2021-05-2035635259003ND
2021-05-2035635259004ND
2021-07-0735648183001ND
2021-07-0735648183002ND
2021-07-0735648183003ND
2021-07-0735648183004ND