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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

City of Conroe

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

69

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND70ND
2015ND100ND
2016ND100ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND180ND
2019ND120ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-04-09AC49949ND
2014-04-09AC49939ND
2014-04-09AC49941ND
2014-04-09AC49943ND
2014-05-28AC55337ND
2014-05-29AC55486ND
2014-05-29AC55490ND
2015-01-21AC77053ND
2015-01-21AC77055ND
2015-01-21AC77049ND
2015-01-21AC77045ND
2015-01-21AC77051ND
2015-01-21AC77057ND
2015-01-21AC77091ND
2015-01-21AC77047ND
2015-01-21AC77059ND
2015-01-21AC77061ND
2016-01-11AD17314ND
2016-01-11AD17316ND
2016-01-11AD17332ND
2016-01-11AD17346ND
2016-01-11AD17350ND
2016-01-11AD17330ND
2016-01-11AD17312ND
2016-01-11AD17342ND
2016-01-11AD17318ND
2016-01-11AD17324ND
2017-01-09AD63583ND
2017-01-09AD63611ND
2017-01-09AD63589ND
2017-04-11AD79236ND
2017-04-11AD79240ND
2017-04-11AD79238ND
2017-05-18AD84887ND
2017-05-18AD84885ND
2017-05-18AD84891ND
2017-05-18AD84881ND
2017-05-18AD84883ND
2017-05-18AD84889ND
2018-01-10AE08679ND
2018-01-10AE08677ND
2018-01-10AE08675ND
2018-01-10AE08633ND
2018-01-10AE08635ND
2018-01-10AE08669ND
2018-01-10AE08671ND
2018-01-10AE08673ND
2018-01-10AE08691ND
2018-01-10AE08681ND
2018-03-08AE17593ND
2018-03-08AE17549ND
2018-05-08AE25593ND
2018-05-08AE25595ND
2018-07-02AE32217ND
2018-07-02AE32255ND
2018-10-01AE42247ND
2018-10-01AE42245ND
2019-03-11AE57865ND
2019-03-11AE57839ND
2019-03-11AE57841ND
2019-03-11AE57861ND
2019-03-11AE57851ND
2019-03-11AE57843ND
2019-04-08AE61428ND
2019-04-08AE61442ND
2019-04-08AE61424ND
2019-04-08AE61422ND
2019-04-08AE61426ND
2019-10-15AE86661ND