Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Carbon tetrachloride

Warminster Municipal Authority

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

 

55

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
2014ND180ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND150ND
2017ND10ND
2018ND40ND
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
2014-01-071066362002ND
2014-01-071066362001ND
2014-01-071066362017ND
2014-01-071066362016ND
2014-01-071066362015ND
2014-01-071066362014ND
2014-01-071066362013ND
2014-01-071066362012ND
2014-01-071066362011ND
2014-01-071066362010ND
2014-01-071066362009ND
2014-01-071066362007ND
2014-01-071066362006ND
2014-01-071066362005ND
2014-01-071066362004ND
2014-01-071066362003ND
2014-01-171068194001ND
2014-01-271069260001ND
2015-01-0512160905ND
2015-01-0812273818ND
2015-01-0812273797ND
2015-01-0812273671ND
2015-01-0812273776ND
2015-01-0812273755ND
2015-01-0812273734ND
2015-01-0812273692ND
2015-01-0812273650ND
2015-01-0812273629ND
2015-01-0812273608ND
2015-01-0812273587ND
2015-01-0812273713ND
2016-01-1113740426ND
2016-01-1113740510ND
2016-01-1113740489ND
2016-01-1113740384ND
2016-01-1113740468ND
2016-01-1113740531ND
2016-01-1113740447ND
2016-01-1113740405ND
2016-01-1113740363ND
2016-01-1113740342ND
2016-01-1113740321ND
2016-01-1113740300ND
2016-01-1113740279ND
2016-01-1113740552ND
2016-03-0313857816ND
2017-03-2916865858ND
2018-01-032286581002ND
2018-05-028012263-03ND
2018-05-028012263-01ND
2018-05-028012263-02ND
2019-03-293025252001ND
2019-03-293025252003ND
2019-03-293025252005ND
2019-09-043056055001ND