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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

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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.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND40ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

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
2014-03-263001197ND
2014-06-243054271ND
2014-09-3014100278ND
2014-12-2914121866ND
2015-03-18ND
2015-06-09ND
2015-09-24ND
2015-12-09ND
2016-03-2216031833ND
2016-06-1637729_16-19672ND
2016-09-2737729_16-34173ND
2016-12-1337729_16-43458ND
2017-03-2937729_17-10855ND
2017-06-1437729_17-20243ND
2017-09-2537729_17-35650ND
2017-12-1937729_17-48335ND
2018-03-2237729_18-12300 ND
2018-05-2237729_18-20490 ND
2018-09-2737729_18-40770 ND
2018-12-1937729_18-53145 ND
2019-03-2035456110001_1271ND
2019-06-1335476102001_1271ND
2019-08-2635493638001_1271ND
2019-12-1035518317001_1271ND