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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Sands Point

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

 

140

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND200ND
2015ND190ND
2016ND230ND
2017ND300ND
2018ND240ND
2019ND240ND

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
2014-03-111403728-002-POCSND
2014-03-111403728-003-POCSND
2014-03-111403728-004-POCSND
2014-03-111403728-005-POCSND
2014-03-111403728-001-POCSND
2014-05-131405909-002-POCSND
2014-05-131405909-005-POCSND
2014-05-131405909-001-POCSND
2014-05-131405909-004-POCSND
2014-05-131405909-003-POCSND
2014-09-021409077-002-POCSND
2014-09-021409077-001-POCSND
2014-09-021409077-004-POCSND
2014-09-02140907-003-POCSND
2014-09-021409077-005-POCSND
2014-11-181411C18-003-POCSND
2014-11-181411C18-002-POCSND
2014-11-181411C18-005-POCSND
2014-11-181411C18-001-POCSND
2014-11-181411C18-004-POCSND
2015-03-171503B53-002-POCSND
2015-03-171503B53-004-POCSND
2015-03-171503B53-001-POCSND
2015-03-171503B53-003-POCSND
2015-03-171503B53-005-POCSND
2015-06-161506D36-005-POCSND
2015-06-161506D36-002-POCSND
2015-06-161506D36-004-POCSND
2015-06-161506D36-001-POCSND
2015-06-161506D36-003-POCSND
2015-09-221509H02-004-POCSND
2015-09-221509H02-002-POCSND
2015-09-221509H02-003-POCSND
2015-09-221509H02-001-POCSND
2015-09-221509H02-005-POCSND
2015-11-171511D82-002-POCSND
2015-11-171511D82-004-POCSND
2015-11-171511D82-003-POCSND
2015-11-171511D82-001-POCSND
2016-03-221603H56-001-POCSND
2016-03-221603H56-003ND
2016-03-221603H56-005-POCSND
2016-03-221603H56-004ND
2016-03-221603H56-002ND
2016-05-051605483-004ND
2016-05-231605L07-001ND
2016-05-231605L07-002ND
2016-05-231605L07-003ND
2016-05-231605L07-004ND
2016-05-231605L07-005ND
2016-09-261609M44-001ND
2016-09-261609M44-004ND
2016-09-261609M44-003ND
2016-09-261609M44-003AND
2016-09-261609M44-005ND
2016-11-16704726002ND
2016-12-01705820005-POCSND
2016-12-01705820002-POCND
2016-12-01705820001-POCSND
2016-12-01705820004-POCND
2016-12-01705820003-POCND
2016-12-01705820005ND
2017-03-217013839001ND
2017-03-287014322004ND
2017-03-287014322003ND
2017-03-287014322002AND
2017-03-287014322001-POCSND
2017-05-027017523001ND
2017-05-117018457003-POCSND
2017-05-167018796004ND
2017-05-167018796004-POCSND
2017-05-167018796003-POCSND
2017-05-167018796002-POCSND
2017-05-167018796001-POCSND
2017-05-167018796003ND
2017-05-167018796002ND
2017-05-167018796001ND
2017-05-187019036001ND
2017-09-257030950006-POCSND
2017-09-257030950001-POCSND
2017-09-257030950005ND
2017-09-257030950003-POCSND
2017-09-257030950004-POCSND
2017-09-25703950001-POCSND
2017-09-252902852-POCSND
2017-09-257030950002-POCSND
2017-11-147035726001-POCSND
2017-11-147035726003-POCSND
2017-11-147035726004-POCSND
2017-11-147035726006-POCSND
2017-11-147035726005-POCSND
2017-11-147035726002-POCSND
2018-03-147045332002-POCSND
2018-03-147045332006-POCSND
2018-03-147045332001-POCSND
2018-03-147045332004-POCSND
2018-03-147045332005-POCSND
2018-03-147045332003-POCSND
2018-05-087050974002-POCSND
2018-05-087050974004-POCSND
2018-05-087050974001-POCSND
2018-05-087050974005-POCSND
2018-05-087050974003-POCSND
2018-05-087050974006-POCSND
2018-09-187065159005-POCSND
2018-09-187065159004-POCSND
2018-09-187065159003-POCSND
2018-09-187065159006-POCSND
2018-09-187065159001-POCSND
2018-09-187065159002-POCSND
2018-11-287072266001-POCSND
2018-11-287072272002-POCSND
2018-11-287072272004-POCSND
2018-11-287072272005-POCSND
2018-11-2870772272001-POCSND
2018-11-287072272003-POCSND
2019-03-197082847002ND
2019-03-197082838001ND
2019-03-197082847001ND
2019-03-197082838002ND
2019-03-197082838003ND
2019-03-197082847003ND
2019-06-047092017006-POCSND
2019-06-047092017004-POCSND
2019-06-047092017002-POCSND
2019-06-047092017001-POCSND
2019-06-047092017005-POCSND
2019-06-047092017003-POCSND
2019-09-1770105251006ND
2019-09-1770105251002-POCSND
2019-09-1770105251001-POCSND
2019-09-1770105251005ND
2019-09-1770105251003-POCSND
2019-09-1770105251004ND
2019-12-0370113924006ND
2019-12-0370113924003ND
2019-12-0370113924005ND
2019-12-0370113924002ND
2019-12-0370113924001ND
2019-12-1770113924004ND