Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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.

 

38

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND130ND
2019ND120ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND20ND
2022N/A00N/A
2023ND60ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-03-052300211001ND
2018-03-13E18003311004ND
2018-06-20E18004567001ND
2018-06-262322947001ND
2018-07-102325449001ND
2018-07-102325449002ND
2018-08-16E19000551001ND
2018-08-16E19000551004ND
2018-08-16E19000551006ND
2018-08-16E19000551008ND
2018-08-202333891001ND
2018-10-24E19001379001ND
2018-11-062349403001ND
2019-03-193022708001ND
2019-06-033037434001ND
2019-06-13E19004289004ND
2019-07-153045714001ND
2019-07-153045712001ND
2019-07-25E20000354012ND
2019-07-25E20000354008ND
2019-07-25E20000354006ND
2019-07-25E20000354004ND
2019-07-25E20000354001ND
2019-07-25E20000354010ND
2019-11-053068008001ND
2020-02-183087316001ND
2020-03-03E20002984006ND
2020-09-16E21000751006ND
2020-09-16E21000751004ND
2020-09-16E21000751001ND
2021-03-15E21002483001ND
2021-03-15E21002483004ND
2023-03-21E2300223601ND
2023-03-21E2300223701ND
2023-05-23E2300281402ND
2023-05-23E2300281404ND
2023-05-23E2300281406ND
2023-05-23E2300281408ND