Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Western Hills Water System

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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND40ND

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
2018-09-18AE40735ND
2018-09-18AE40745ND
2018-09-18AE40749ND
2018-09-18AE40729ND
2019-06-17AE71090ND
2019-06-17AE71098ND
2019-06-17AE71118ND
2019-06-17AE71138ND
2020-06-15AF15206ND
2020-06-15AF15208ND
2020-06-15AF15210ND
2020-06-15AF15214ND
2021-08-03AF64447ND
2021-08-03AF64455ND
2021-08-03AF64451ND
2021-09-23AF71029ND
2021-10-14AF73603ND
2022-03-22AF90050ND
2022-03-22AF90052ND
2022-03-22AF90054ND
2022-10-04AG15920ND
2023-07-12AG48162ND
2023-07-12AG48172ND
2023-07-12AG48178ND
2023-07-12AG48180ND