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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Carson City Public Works

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

 

61

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND260ND
2016ND10ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND200ND
2019ND60ND

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
2014-02-24201402260926-VND
2014-05-27201405280593-VND
2014-07-01201407020370ND
2014-09-04201409050252ND
2015-05-19201505210392VND
2015-05-19201505210388VND
2015-05-19201505210480VND
2015-05-19201505210341VND
2015-05-20201505210405-VOCND
2015-05-20201505210403VND
2015-05-20201505210412VND
2015-05-21201505220247-VOCND
2015-05-21201505220202VND
2015-05-21201505220242VND
2015-06-01201506030355-VOCND
2015-06-012015506030247-VOND
2015-06-01201506030333-VOCND
2015-06-01201506030407-VOCND
2015-06-09201506120280-VOCND
2015-06-09201506120278-VOCND
2015-06-11201506120140-VOCND
2015-06-11201506120209-VOCND
2015-06-29201506300124-VOCND
2015-06-29201506300177-VOCND
2015-06-30201507010430-VOCND
2015-06-30201507160442-VOCND
2015-08-03201508040410-VOCND
2015-08-04201508050421-VOCND
2015-08-10201508110263-VOCND
2015-09-15201509020134-VOCND
2016-06-22201606230265-VOCND
2017-05-15201705160571ND
2017-05-16201705170782-VOCND
2017-05-23201705240769ND
2017-06-21201706220614ND
2018-04-26201804300373ND
2018-05-15201805161020ND
2018-05-24201805250730ND
2018-05-30201805310575ND
2018-05-31201806010519ND
2018-07-23201807240376ND
2018-08-09201808110163ND
2018-08-14201808160451ND
2018-08-14201808160455ND
2018-09-13201809140770ND
2018-09-13201809140813-VOCND
2018-09-18201809190678ND
2018-09-19201809200852ND
2018-10-16201810170779ND
2018-10-16201810170780ND
2018-10-16201810180738AND
2018-10-16201810180748AND
2018-10-17201810190329AND
2018-10-18201810190370AND
2018-11-26201811270444ND
2019-06-24201906250202AND
2019-06-26201906270391ND
2019-08-21201908220455AND
2019-08-22201908230667AND
2019-09-24201909250649AND
2019-09-24201909250291ND