Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Trumbauersville Municipal Waterworks

Dry cleaning chemical tetrachloroethylene, or perc, can cause cancer. It pollutes soil and groundwater due to emissions from dry cleaning facilities, and automotive, metalworking and other industries. Read More.

The EPA considers tetrachloroethylene a likely human carcinogen. It has been linked with increased incidence of lung, breast and colon cancers. Tetrachloroethylene also damages the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.06 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 80 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 5 parts per billion.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

17

Samples

2

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

13

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20184.50 ppb114.50 ppb
20192.68 ppb43ND - 4.40 ppb
20201.95 ppb21ND - 3.90 ppb
2021ND20ND
20220.810 ppb110.810 ppb
20233.19 ppb770.600 ppb - 5.90 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.06 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.06 ppb for tetrachloroethylene 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 tetrachloroethylene, established in 1991, 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 tetrachloroethylene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-12-2330077760014.50 ppb
2019-03-3130252570014.40 ppb
2019-06-303043361001ND
2019-09-1830591090012.50 ppb
2019-12-3130785260023.80 ppb
2020-03-3121832473.003.90 ppb
2020-12-2923522836.00ND
2021-09-3025204806.00ND
2021-09-3025204829.00ND
2022-12-2927984509.000.810 ppb
2023-05-1829093137.005.80 ppb
2023-05-2629093138.005.90 ppb
2023-05-2629093136.000.600 ppb
2023-08-1729481200.000.600 ppb
2023-08-2329481201.004.80 ppb
2023-10-2529872584.000.700 ppb
2023-11-1030057813.003.90 ppb