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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

City of Taneytown

Trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent and common groundwater pollutant, damages the immune system, harms the developing fetus and causes cancer. Read More.

Trichloroethylene was once commonly used to remove grease from metal parts, such as steel pipes and engines, and as a solvent in dry cleaning and carpet cleaning products. Drinking trichloroethylene-contaminated drinking water has been linked with birth defects, leukemia, and liver and kidney damage. Trichloroethylene is highly volatile and can enter indoor air through water in pipes. If trichloroethylene is present, people can inhale it while bathing, washing dishes and doing other household activities that involve water.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

43

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND50ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND60ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND130ND
2019ND120ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for trichloroethylene was defined by the state of Minnesota as health risk limit, the concentration of a contaminant that can be consumed with little or no risk to health. This health guideline protects against harm to the developing fetus and damage to the immune system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 ppb

The legal limit for trichloroethylene, 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 and harm to the developing fetus.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-130060012_02_COT01ND
2014-02-120060012_03_99467ND
2014-02-120060012_03_99467ND
2014-07-110060012_02_00012ND
2014-07-110060012_05_00012ND
2015-02-180060012_03_20554ND
2015-02-180060012_03_20554ND
2015-09-23E16001274006ND
2015-09-23E160012740011ND
2015-09-23E160012740041ND
2016-02-222125662ND
2016-02-222125661001ND
2016-08-31E17000888006ND
2016-08-31E17000888001ND
2016-08-31E17000888008ND
2016-08-31E17000888004ND
2017-09-28E18001312004ND
2017-09-28E18001312001ND
2018-03-052300211001ND
2018-03-13E18003311004ND
2018-06-20E18004567001ND
2018-06-262322947001ND
2018-07-102325449001ND
2018-07-102325449002ND
2018-08-16E19000551004ND
2018-08-16E19000551008ND
2018-08-16E19000551006ND
2018-08-16E19000551001ND
2018-08-202333891001ND
2018-10-24E19001379001ND
2018-11-062349403001ND
2019-03-193022708001ND
2019-06-033037434001ND
2019-06-13E19004289004ND
2019-07-153045712001ND
2019-07-153045714001ND
2019-07-25E20000354001ND
2019-07-25E20000354004ND
2019-07-25E20000354008ND
2019-07-25E20000354006ND
2019-07-25E20000354010ND
2019-07-25E20000354012ND
2019-11-053068008001ND