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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Franklin Water Systems 3

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.

 

29

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND90ND
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-06-24Q1423214004ND
2014-06-24Q1423214002ND
2015-06-23Q1523311006ND
2015-06-23Q1523311004ND
2015-06-23Q1523311002ND
2016-03-08Q1609693005ND
2016-03-08Q1609693004ND
2016-03-08Q1609693001ND
2016-12-13Q1654192014ND
2016-12-13Q1654192012ND
2017-03-21Q1711955011ND
2017-03-21Q1711955005ND
2017-03-21Q1711955004ND
2017-03-21Q1711955002ND
2017-03-21Q1711955012ND
2017-06-07AD86938ND
2017-06-21Q1725672001ND
2017-07-25Q1730588005ND
2017-07-25Q1730588010ND
2018-03-01Q1808555007ND
2018-03-01Q1808555003ND
2018-03-01Q1808555013ND
2018-03-01Q1808555005ND
2018-03-27Q1812609001ND
2019-01-30Q1904477002ND
2019-01-30Q1904477010ND
2019-01-30Q1904477007ND
2019-01-30Q1904477006ND
2019-01-30Q1904477004ND