Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Halifax Water Department

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.

 

55

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

5

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.120 ppb101ND - 1.20 ppb
20190.0750 ppb81ND - 0.600 ppb
20200.0667 ppb91ND - 0.600 ppb
20210.0667 ppb91ND - 0.600 ppb
2022ND90ND
20230.0800 ppb101ND - 0.800 ppb

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 Result
2018-03-23ND
2018-03-23ND
2018-03-23ND
2018-03-231.20 ppb
2018-06-28ND
2018-09-13ND
2018-12-18ND
2018-12-18ND
2018-12-18ND
2018-12-18ND
2019-03-210.600 ppb
2019-03-21ND
2019-03-21ND
2019-09-24ND
2019-12-06ND
2019-12-06ND
2019-12-06ND
2019-12-06ND
2020-03-18ND
2020-03-31ND
2020-03-310.600 ppb
2020-03-31ND
2020-06-30ND
2020-09-30ND
2020-12-29ND
2020-12-29ND
2020-12-29ND
2021-03-300.600 ppb
2021-03-30ND
2021-03-30ND
2021-03-30ND
2021-06-30ND
2021-12-29ND
2021-12-29ND
2021-12-29ND
2021-12-29ND
2022-03-30ND
2022-03-30ND
2022-03-30ND
2022-06-29ND
2022-09-13ND
2022-12-16ND
2022-12-16ND
2022-12-16ND
2022-12-16ND
2023-03-29ND
2023-03-29ND
2023-03-29ND
2023-03-290.800 ppb
2023-06-29ND
2023-09-20ND
2023-12-27ND
2023-12-27ND
2023-12-27ND
2023-12-27ND