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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

City of Papillion

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

 

105

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND170ND
2015ND170ND
2016ND200ND
2017ND170ND
2018ND170ND
2019ND170ND

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
2014-01-13283326ND
2014-01-13283327ND
2014-01-13283328ND
2014-01-13283329ND
2014-04-14295154ND
2014-04-14295155ND
2014-04-14295156ND
2014-04-14295157ND
2014-07-14312001ND
2014-07-14311998ND
2014-07-14311999ND
2014-07-14312000ND
2014-08-04309817ND
2014-10-14330710ND
2014-10-14330711ND
2014-10-14330712ND
2014-10-14330713ND
2015-01-12344904ND
2015-01-12344905ND
2015-01-12344906ND
2015-01-12344907ND
2015-04-13357657ND
2015-04-13357658ND
2015-04-13357659ND
2015-04-13357660ND
2015-07-13374554ND
2015-07-13374555ND
2015-07-13374556ND
2015-07-13374557ND
2015-08-10371885ND
2015-10-13393533ND
2015-10-13393534ND
2015-10-13393535ND
2015-10-13393536ND
2016-01-11ND
2016-01-11ND
2016-01-11ND
2016-01-11ND
2016-04-11ND
2016-04-11ND
2016-04-11ND
2016-04-11ND
2016-06-20ND
2016-06-20ND
2016-06-20ND
2016-07-11ND
2016-07-11ND
2016-07-11ND
2016-07-11ND
2016-09-12ND
2016-10-11ND
2016-10-11ND
2016-10-11ND
2016-10-11ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-04-10ND
2017-04-10ND
2017-04-10ND
2017-04-10ND
2017-07-10ND
2017-07-10ND
2017-07-10ND
2017-07-10ND
2017-08-28ND
2017-10-10ND
2017-10-10ND
2017-10-10ND
2017-10-10ND
2018-01-08532431ND
2018-01-08532432ND
2018-01-08532433ND
2018-01-08532434ND
2018-04-09543844ND
2018-04-09543845ND
2018-04-09543846ND
2018-04-09543847ND
2018-07-09562066ND
2018-07-09562067ND
2018-07-09562068ND
2018-07-09562069ND
2018-07-30560191ND
2018-10-09578361ND
2018-10-09578362ND
2018-10-09578363ND
2018-10-09578364ND
2019-01-08590646ND
2019-01-08590647ND
2019-01-08590648ND
2019-01-08590649ND
2019-04-08600580ND
2019-04-08600581ND
2019-04-08600582ND
2019-04-08600583ND
2019-07-08622464ND
2019-07-08622465ND
2019-07-08622466ND
2019-07-08622467ND
2019-08-05621287ND
2019-10-15638260ND
2019-10-15638261ND
2019-10-15638262ND
2019-10-15638263ND