Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

South Middleton Twp Water Authority

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.

 

33

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

9

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.200 ppb31ND - 0.600 ppb
20190.300 ppb31ND - 0.900 ppb
20200.267 ppb31ND - 0.800 ppb
20210.133 ppb92ND - 0.600 ppb
20220.244 ppb93ND - 0.900 ppb
20230.133 ppb61ND - 0.800 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
2018-05-158052993-010.600 ppb
2018-05-158052993-02ND
2018-05-158052993-03ND
2019-05-149052836-02ND
2019-05-149052836-03ND
2019-05-149052836-010.900 ppb
2020-05-1422355430.00ND
2020-05-1422355409.00ND
2020-05-1422355388.000.800 ppb
2021-02-1724007063.00ND
2021-02-1724007015.00ND
2021-02-1724007039.00ND
2021-05-1824579642.00ND
2021-05-1824579691.00ND
2021-05-1824579667.00ND
2021-08-1725164859.000.600 ppb
2021-08-1725164908.000.600 ppb
2021-08-1725164884.00ND
2022-05-1726788409.000.700 ppb
2022-05-1726788458.00ND
2022-05-1726788434.00ND
2022-08-2327587414.00ND
2022-08-2327587415.00ND
2022-08-2327384222.000.900 ppb
2022-11-1627948236.00ND
2022-11-1627948260.00ND
2022-11-1627948211.000.600 ppb
2023-03-3028650593.000.800 ppb
2023-03-3028650642.00ND
2023-03-3028650618.00ND
2023-05-2529247769.00ND
2023-05-2529247768.00ND
2023-05-2529247767.00ND