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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Bellaire Public Water System

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.

 

72

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND280ND
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
2014-01-07A140119497ND
2014-05-27A140160321ND
2014-08-12A140187051ND
2014-11-03A140191154ND
2015-01-05A150231580ND
2015-04-06A150231583ND
2015-07-09A150216587ND
2015-10-05A150328659ND
2016-01-04A160319643ND
2016-04-04A160338043ND
2016-07-04A160374674ND
2016-09-19A160435518ND
2016-09-19A160447266ND
2016-10-03A160451893ND
2016-11-01A160451895ND
2016-12-05A160453477ND
2017-01-02A170453478ND
2017-04-03A170477159ND
2017-07-03A170504709ND
2017-10-09A170539957ND
2018-04-0218040151ND
2018-04-0218040150ND
2018-04-0218040152ND
2018-05-0118050150ND
2018-05-0118050148ND
2018-05-0118050149ND
2018-06-0418060375ND
2018-06-0418060376ND
2018-06-0418060374ND
2018-07-0218070369ND
2018-07-0218070370ND
2018-07-0218070371ND
2018-08-0618081185ND
2018-08-0618081188ND
2018-08-0618081186ND
2018-08-0618081187ND
2018-09-0318091680ND
2018-09-0318091679ND
2018-09-0318091678ND
2018-10-0418101624ND
2018-10-0418101621ND
2018-10-0418101623ND
2018-11-0518111588ND
2018-11-0518111590ND
2018-11-0518111591ND
2018-12-0318121618ND
2018-12-0318121619ND
2018-12-0318121616ND
2019-02-0419021280ND
2019-02-0419021281ND
2019-02-0419021279ND
2019-04-0119041100ND
2019-04-0119041102ND
2019-04-0119041103ND
2019-05-0619050942ND
2019-05-0619040941ND
2019-05-0619050939ND
2019-06-0319061391ND
2019-06-0319061394ND
2019-06-0319061393ND
2019-07-0119071448ND
2019-07-0119071451ND
2019-07-0119071450ND
2019-07-2219073457ND
2019-07-2219073456ND
2019-08-0419081809ND
2019-08-0419081807ND
2019-08-0419081810ND
2019-09-0219091331ND
2019-09-0219091330ND
2019-09-0219091333ND
2019-09-0219091332ND