Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Cross Roads Special Utility District

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.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-06-11Q1823067008ND
2018-06-11Q1823067005ND
2019-10-29Q1974604001ND
2019-10-29Q1974604003ND
2020-12-17Q2050079006ND
2020-12-17Q2050079008ND
2021-03-02Q2105308006ND
2021-06-24Q2116616005ND
2021-09-21Q2125859006ND
2021-11-30Q2133008006ND
2021-11-30Q2133008010ND
2021-11-30Q2133008008ND
2022-03-22Q2209157009ND
2022-03-22Q2209157011ND
2022-03-22Q2209157013ND
2022-05-26Q2215240003ND
2023-02-27Q2307812003ND
2023-07-20Q2328742001ND
2023-10-16Q2343886003ND