Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Carbon tetrachloride

Madera Valley Water Supply Corporation

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.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND30ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-07-18Q1828958012ND
2018-07-18Q1828958014ND
2018-07-18Q1828958010ND
2019-06-20Q1938291004ND
2019-06-20Q1938291006ND
2019-06-20Q1938291008ND
2020-08-17Q2033215001ND
2020-08-17Q2033215003ND
2020-08-17Q2033215005ND
2020-12-02Q2048267001ND
2021-03-15Q2106895001ND
2021-03-15Q2106895003ND
2021-09-13Q2125100003ND
2022-02-07Q2204392003ND
2022-02-07Q2204392005ND
2022-08-31Q2225814003ND
2023-04-20Q2314887001ND
2023-04-20Q2314887003ND
2023-08-30Q2337553001ND