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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

North Wales Water 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

 

77

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND120ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND140ND
2017ND130ND
2018ND130ND
2019ND120ND

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
2014-03-0420140745ND
2014-03-1720140959ND
2014-03-1720140958ND
2014-03-1720140966ND
2014-03-1720140965ND
2014-03-1720140964ND
2014-03-1720140963ND
2014-03-1720140962ND
2014-03-1720140961ND
2014-03-1720140960ND
2014-06-1020141963ND
2014-08-0520142640ND
2015-03-1012516868ND
2015-03-1612516763ND
2015-03-1612516847ND
2015-03-1612516826ND
2015-03-1612516805ND
2015-03-1612516784ND
2015-03-1612516742ND
2015-03-1612516721ND
2015-03-1612516700ND
2015-03-1612516679ND
2015-07-0613014450ND
2015-09-1413265890ND
2015-12-0113634673ND
2016-03-0713987498ND
2016-03-1413987435ND
2016-03-1413987477ND
2016-03-1413987456ND
2016-03-1413987414ND
2016-03-1413987393ND
2016-03-1413987372ND
2016-03-1413987351ND
2016-03-1413987330ND
2016-03-1413987309ND
2016-06-0714407379ND
2016-06-2914407406ND
2016-09-0614909855ND
2016-12-0615374023ND
2017-03-1615797866ND
2017-05-0116096372ND
2017-05-0116096351ND
2017-05-0116096288ND
2017-05-0116096456ND
2017-05-0116096309ND
2017-05-0116096435ND
2017-05-0116096414ND
2017-05-0116096330ND
2017-05-0116096393ND
2017-06-0616259057ND
2017-09-0516728657ND
2017-12-0517163819ND
2018-03-1220180936ND
2018-03-1220180937ND
2018-03-1220180935ND
2018-03-1220180938ND
2018-03-1220180934ND
2018-03-1220180939ND
2018-03-1220180933ND
2018-03-1220180940ND
2018-03-1220180932ND
2018-03-1320180956ND
2018-06-0520182148ND
2018-09-0420183373ND
2018-12-1820184775ND
2019-03-0520190857ND
2019-03-1220190961ND
2019-03-1220190960ND
2019-03-1220190962ND
2019-03-1220190959ND
2019-03-1220190963ND
2019-03-1220190958ND
2019-03-1220190964ND
2019-03-1220190957ND
2019-03-1220190956ND
2019-09-0320193443ND
2019-12-0320194748ND