Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Carbon tetrachloride

Fayette Water Supply Corporation West

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.

 

31

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND50ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-03-06AE16964ND
2018-03-06AE16972ND
2018-03-06AE16974ND
2018-03-06AE16960ND
2018-04-24AE23735ND
2018-04-24AE23739ND
2019-03-19AE59043ND
2019-03-19AE59045ND
2019-03-19AE59047ND
2019-03-19AE59049ND
2019-03-19AE59053ND
2020-02-12AE98164ND
2020-02-12AE98168ND
2020-02-12AE98170ND
2020-04-13AF06401ND
2020-07-08AF18616ND
2021-03-08AF45674ND
2021-03-08AF45678ND
2021-04-28AF51530ND
2021-04-28AF51532ND
2021-04-28AF51534ND
2022-02-14AF84596ND
2022-05-31AF98824ND
2022-05-31AF98826ND
2022-10-12AG16849ND
2022-10-12AG16863ND
2023-03-09Q2309600001ND
2023-03-09Q2309600003ND
2023-03-09Q2309600005ND
2023-04-04AG35371ND
2023-04-04AG35379ND