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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

NJ American Water - Coastal North

Dry cleaning chemical tetrachloroethylene, or perc, can cause cancer. It pollutes soil and groundwater due to emissions from dry cleaning facilities, and automotive, metalworking and other industries. Read More.

The EPA considers tetrachloroethylene a likely human carcinogen. It has been linked with increased incidence of lung, breast and colon cancers. Tetrachloroethylene also damages the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.06 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 80 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 5 parts per billion.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

93

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
2014ND210ND
2015ND140ND
2016ND100ND
2017ND210ND
2018ND140ND
2019ND130ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.06 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.06 ppb for tetrachloroethylene 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 tetrachloroethylene, established in 1991, 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 tetrachloroethylene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-1224710501ND
2014-02-1224721201ND
2014-03-0524932801ND
2014-03-1024936501ND
2014-03-1224934601ND
2014-04-1625388601ND
2014-04-1625388901ND
2014-05-0625500401ND
2014-06-1125787001ND
2014-06-1125785201ND
2014-06-1125495301ND
2014-06-1825773201ND
2014-07-1626187101ND
2014-07-1626186601ND
2014-08-0626594401ND
2014-08-0626581001ND
2014-08-1326188001ND
2014-08-1326586301ND
2014-09-1725389201ND
2014-10-1527220701ND
2014-10-2227217401ND
2015-02-1828082601ND
2015-03-1628331701ND
2015-03-1828329801ND
2015-03-2428328101ND
2015-03-3028804601ND
2015-04-1528090501ND
2015-05-1229030501ND
2015-05-1329033801ND
2015-06-0329386201ND
2015-07-0829718801ND
2015-08-1229970501ND
2015-08-1229974801ND
2015-10-1430504101ND
2015-10-2130501901ND
2016-03-0831525301ND
2016-03-1731528501ND
2016-05-1732082901ND
2016-05-1832085701ND
2016-05-1932118901ND
2016-06-1532508601ND
2016-06-2232086301ND
2016-07-1832839401ND
2016-08-1033081401ND
2016-10-1933650501ND
2017-01-2334429301ND
2017-03-1535011101ND
2017-03-1635014301ND
2017-04-1735321401ND
2017-04-1935327601ND
2017-05-1135576101ND
2017-05-1735571401ND
2017-05-1735579201ND
2017-05-1735578901ND
2017-05-1735574601ND
2017-06-1436040601ND
2017-06-1436039101ND
2017-06-2136033301ND
2017-07-1236487301ND
2017-07-1236486801ND
2017-07-1235579801ND
2017-07-1936480701ND
2017-08-1636998801ND
2017-08-1636869001ND
2017-10-1737488801ND
2017-11-1637780101ND
2018-01-0838432601ND
2018-03-1438952501ND
2018-03-1438950601ND
2018-04-1739264701ND
2018-05-0939564301ND
2018-05-0939563601ND
2018-05-1639560801ND
2018-06-1340026301ND
2018-06-2740482001ND
2018-07-1040434101ND
2018-08-1540738801ND
2018-08-1540745901ND
2018-10-0941602001ND
2018-11-0742070301ND
2019-01-1542625801ND
2019-03-1143461701ND
2019-03-2643461601ND
2019-04-1043692601ND
2019-05-1544241301ND
2019-05-2244245801ND
2019-05-2944247201ND
2019-06-1244775001ND
2019-06-2045355401ND
2019-07-1045187501ND
2019-08-2145906901ND
2019-10-0146931201ND
2019-11-0747251301ND