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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Penn State Univ.

Trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent and common groundwater pollutant, damages the immune system, harms the developing fetus and causes cancer. Read More.

Trichloroethylene was once commonly used to remove grease from metal parts, such as steel pipes and engines, and as a solvent in dry cleaning and carpet cleaning products. Drinking trichloroethylene-contaminated drinking water has been linked with birth defects, leukemia, and liver and kidney damage. Trichloroethylene is highly volatile and can enter indoor air through water in pipes. If trichloroethylene is present, people can inhale it while bathing, washing dishes and doing other household activities that involve water.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

71

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND140ND
2015ND70ND
2016ND240ND
2017ND130ND
2018ND90ND
2019ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for trichloroethylene was defined by the state of Minnesota as health risk limit, the concentration of a contaminant that can be consumed with little or no risk to health. This health guideline protects against harm to the developing fetus and damage to the immune system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 ppb

The legal limit for trichloroethylene, 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 and harm to the developing fetus.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-234A23025-06ND
2014-01-234A23025-07ND
2014-01-234A23033-06ND
2014-02-204B20042-07ND
2014-02-204B20042-06ND
2014-02-204B20041-07ND
2014-03-114C11016-07ND
2014-03-114C11027-07ND
2014-03-114C11016-06ND
2014-04-094D09031-01ND
2014-04-094D09037-01ND
2014-04-094D09036-01ND
2014-06-114F11107-04ND
2014-06-114F11107-05ND
2015-01-2113561273ND
2015-11-1113561210ND
2015-11-1113561162ND
2015-11-1113561186ND
2015-12-1013681483ND
2015-12-1013681515ND
2015-12-1013681482ND
2016-02-2313917108ND
2016-02-2313917068ND
2016-02-2313917107ND
2016-03-1614032204ND
2016-03-1614032227ND
2016-03-1614032181ND
2016-04-2014163593ND
2016-04-2014163594ND
2016-04-2014163554ND
2016-05-1814312901ND
2016-05-1814312902ND
2016-05-1814312934ND
2016-06-2114471226ND
2016-06-2114471227ND
2016-06-2114471260ND
2016-07-1914636469ND
2016-07-1914636468ND
2016-07-1914636427ND
2016-08-2314804509ND
2016-08-2314804484ND
2016-08-2314804534ND
2016-09-2814975885ND
2016-09-2814975884ND
2016-09-2814975918ND
2017-01-1715573241ND
2017-01-1715573240ND
2017-01-1815573199ND
2017-02-2315709654ND
2017-02-2315709653ND
2017-03-2315850704ND
2017-03-2815850832ND
2017-04-1816001584ND
2017-04-1816001583ND
2017-07-1216473291ND
2017-08-0316629366ND
2017-10-3116937429ND
2017-11-3017077368ND
2018-01-318A31018-01ND
2018-02-208B21092-08ND
2018-02-228B23070-07ND
2018-04-118D12138-07ND
2018-04-268D27100-10ND
2018-06-018F01151-05ND
2018-07-118G12180-04ND
2018-08-018H02080-01ND
2018-10-048J05241-01ND
2019-02-219B22087-01ND
2019-05-099E13165-01ND
2019-08-149H15241-01ND
2019-10-249J28033-01ND