Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Paw Glen Alsace Div

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.

 

43

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

9

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.433 ppb31ND - 1.30 ppb
20190.329 ppb71ND - 2.30 ppb
20200.175 ppb121ND - 2.10 ppb
20210.533 ppb31ND - 1.60 ppb
20220.933 ppb31ND - 2.80 ppb
20230.467 ppb154ND - 2.50 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
2018-02-1338538801ND
2018-02-1338539501ND
2018-02-13385392011.30 ppb
2019-02-0642853101ND
2019-02-0642853301ND
2019-02-06428532012.30 ppb
2019-07-2245717501ND
2019-07-2245717601ND
2019-07-2245717401ND
2019-07-2946133302ND
2020-02-1021708720.00ND
2020-02-1021708699.00ND
2020-02-1021708678.00ND
2020-02-1021708765.002.10 ppb
2020-02-1021708786.00ND
2020-02-1121708744.00ND
2020-02-1121708615.00ND
2020-02-1121708636.00ND
2020-02-1121708657.00ND
2020-02-1721708831.00ND
2020-02-1721708810.00ND
2020-02-1721708852.00ND
2021-02-1023928437.001.60 ppb
2021-02-1023928416.00ND
2021-02-1023928458.00ND
2022-02-1026157276.002.80 ppb
2022-02-1026157311.00ND
2022-02-1026157257.00ND
2023-02-0928389646.00ND
2023-02-0928389578.00ND
2023-02-0928389622.00ND
2023-02-0928389557.00ND
2023-02-0928389599.00ND
2023-02-0928389494.00ND
2023-02-0928389473.002.50 ppb
2023-02-0928389431.00ND
2023-02-0928389536.00ND
2023-02-0928389651.00ND
2023-02-0928389515.00ND
2023-02-0928389452.00ND
2023-04-1028750986.002.00 ppb
2023-07-1129348353.001.20 ppb
2023-10-0929929560.001.30 ppb