Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Trichloroethylene

West Point, City of

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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND80ND

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
2018-01-16530842ND
2018-09-24571941ND
2018-09-24571940ND
2019-01-14592531ND
2019-09-03630428ND
2019-09-03630429ND
2020-02-10650614ND
2020-09-14689975ND
2020-09-14689974ND
2021-01-19713005ND
2021-09-21764409ND
2021-09-21764408ND
2022-01-18778908ND
2022-09-12822877ND
2022-09-12822878ND
2022-12-05835790ND
2022-12-05835789ND
2023-03-06851386ND
2023-03-06851387ND
2023-06-19864105ND
2023-06-19864104ND
2023-09-06879906ND
2023-09-06879907ND
2023-12-05891492ND
2023-12-05891491ND