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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Aberdeen, Town of

Carbon tetrachloride, a volatile carcinogenic solvent, has been used in industrial chemical production and as a dry cleaning ingredient. Read More.

Carbon tetrachloride is no longer permitted in products intended for home use in the U.S. In the past, it was widely used as a dry cleaning ingredient, fire extinguishing chemical, pesticide and chemical intermediate for manufacturing refrigerants. Carbon tetrachloride does not break down easily and can remain in groundwater for years. In addition to increasing cancer risk, carbon tetrachloride harms the liver and causes central nervous system depression, irregular heart rate, and kidney damage. Maternal exposure to carbon tetrachloride in drinking water has been associated with a risk of birth defects.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

66

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND220ND
2015ND100ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND170ND
2018ND60ND
2019ND60ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for carbon tetrachloride 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 carbon tetrachloride, 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 due to carbon tetrachloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-138977-011314-E07VND
2014-01-138977-011314-E06VND
2014-01-138977-011314-W02VND
2014-01-138977-011314-E16VND
2014-01-138977-011314-E15VND
2014-01-138977-011314-E14VND
2014-01-138977-011314-E13VND
2014-01-138977-011314-E11VND
2014-01-138977-011314-E10VND
2014-01-138977-011314-E09VND
2014-01-138977-011314-E08VND
2014-01-138977-011314-E12VND
2014-01-278977-012714-E17VND
2014-01-278977-012714-E18VND
2014-01-278977-012714-E19VND
2014-02-108977-021014-E03VND
2014-04-078977-040714-E09VND
2014-04-148977-041414-E22VND
2014-07-078977-070714-E09VND
2014-07-078977-070714-E22VND
2014-10-068977-100614-E09VND
2014-10-068977-100614-E22VND
2015-01-05ND
2015-01-05ND
2015-01-05ND
2015-01-05ND
2015-01-05ND
2015-04-13ND
2015-04-13ND
2015-07-06ND
2015-07-06ND
2015-10-05ND
2016-01-048977-010416-E22VND
2016-01-048977-010416-E19VND
2016-01-048977-010416-E11VND
2016-04-048977-040416-E22VND
2016-07-118977-071116-E22VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E13VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E19VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E17VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E16VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E15VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E14VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E12VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E11VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E10VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E08VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E07VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E06VND
2017-01-098977-010917-E03VND
2017-02-068977-020617-E18VND
2017-07-108977-071017-E22VND
2017-08-288977-082817-E14VND
2017-10-028977-100217-E14VND
2018-02-058977-020518-E14VND
2018-02-058977-020518-E17VND
2018-04-028977-040218-E14VND
2018-07-168977-071618-E14VND
2018-07-168977-071618-E22VND
2018-11-138977-111318-E14VND
2019-01-078977-010719-E14VND
2019-04-018977-040119-E14VND
2019-07-228977-072219-E14VND
2019-07-228977-072219-E22VND
2019-10-078977-100719-E14VND
2019-10-218977-102119-E28VND