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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Epcor Water New Mexico Inc Clovis

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.

 

50

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
2014ND130ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND100ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND40ND

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
2014-05-121405632-001AND
2014-05-121405645-001AND
2014-05-121405625-001AND
2014-05-121405622-001AND
2014-05-121405628-001AND
2014-06-171406949-001AND
2014-06-171406948-001AND
2014-06-171406945-001AND
2014-06-171406947-001AND
2014-09-021409179-001AND
2014-09-021409175-001AND
2014-09-171409989-001AND
2014-10-071410A36-001AND
2015-03-231503B78-001AND
2015-03-231503B77-001AND
2015-03-231503B45-001AND
2015-06-151506870-001AND
2015-09-211509A49-001AND
2015-11-101511483-001AND
2015-11-101511478-001AND
2015-11-101511482-001AND
2016-03-211603C17-001AND
2016-03-211603C12-001AND
2016-03-211603C16-001AND
2016-03-211603C19-001AND
2016-05-091605537-001AND
2016-07-261608393-001AND
2016-07-261608368-001AND
2016-07-261608397-001AND
2016-07-261608367-001AND
2016-10-181610A17-001ND
2017-03-132017007273ND
2017-03-132017007272ND
2017-04-262017012834ND
2017-06-062017016937ND
2017-06-062017016939ND
2017-06-062017016938ND
2017-07-242017021807ND
2017-07-242017021806ND
2017-07-242017021805ND
2017-10-172017030168ND
2017-10-172017030169ND
2017-10-172017030165ND
2018-02-062018004059ND
2018-07-172018019759ND
2018-07-172018019760ND
2019-04-021904125-001ND
2019-06-032019015187ND
2019-07-152019019642ND
2019-07-152019019643ND