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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Hillcrest Water District

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

 

70

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND130ND
2015ND100ND
2016ND150ND
2017ND160ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND50ND

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
2014-02-11BG08458POCND
2014-02-11BG08457POCND
2014-02-11BG08459POCND
2014-02-11BG08460ND
2014-05-07BG41839POCND
2014-05-07BG41841POCND
2014-05-07BG41840POCND
2014-05-07BG41842POCND
2014-08-06BG89225POCND
2014-11-06BH37477ND
2014-11-06BH37474POCSND
2014-11-06BH37475POCSND
2014-11-06BH37476POCSND
2015-02-12BH73134ND
2015-02-12BH73135ND
2015-02-12BH73137ND
2015-05-13BJ16340ND
2015-05-13BJ16339POCSND
2015-05-13BJ16338POCSND
2015-08-12BJ73766POCSND
2015-08-12BJ73767POCSND
2015-08-12BJ73768POCSND
2015-08-12BJ73765POCSND
2016-02-10BK63948PIOCSND
2016-02-10BK63949POCSND
2016-02-10BK63951POCSND
2016-02-10BK63950POCSND
2016-05-18BN35053POCSND
2016-05-18BN35054POCSND
2016-05-18BN35055POCSND
2016-06-01BN45270POCSND
2016-08-17BN940027POCSND
2016-08-17BN94008POCSND
2016-08-17BN94009POCSND
2016-08-17BN94010POCSND
2016-11-10BV83351POCSND
2016-11-10BV83350POCSND
2016-11-15BV83352POCSND
2017-02-07BX70856POCSND
2017-02-17BX70858POCSND
2017-02-17BX70859POCSND
2017-02-17BX70857POCSND
2017-05-04BY15301POCSND
2017-05-04BY15300ND
2017-05-04BY15302POCSND
2017-05-04BY15299POCSND
2017-08-03BY78077POCSND
2017-08-03BY78076POCSND
2017-08-03BY78075POCSND
2017-08-03BY78078POCSND
2017-11-06BZ33105POCSND
2017-11-06BZ33102POCSND
2017-11-06BZ33104POCSND
2017-11-06BZ33103POCSND
2018-02-15BZ90402POCSND
2018-02-15BZ90403POCSND
2018-02-15BZ90400POCSND
2018-02-15BZ90401POCSND
2018-05-10CA44946POCSND
2018-05-10CA44944POCSND
2018-05-10CA44947POCSND
2018-05-10CA44945POCSND
2018-08-24CB18711POCSND
2018-08-24CB18710POCSND
2018-11-27CC03591POCSND
2019-02-20CC55434POCSND
2019-05-15CD15020POCSND
2019-08-19CD87714POCSND
2019-11-07CE56416POCSND
2019-11-19CE63530POCSND