Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Carbon tetrachloride

Beechwood Water Supply Corporation

NOTE: Beechwood Water Supply Corporation purchases water from South Sabine Water Supply Corporation which is required to test for carbon tetrachloride. Sample information shown below was taken by South Sabine 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.

 

6

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND10ND
2015ND10ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND10ND
2018ND10ND
2019ND10ND

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

NOTE: Beechwood Water Supply Corporation purchases water from South Sabine Water Supply Corporation which is required to test for carbon tetrachloride. Sample information shown below was taken by South Sabine Water Supply Corporation.

Date Lab ID Result
2014-06-19Q1422325001ND
2015-05-27Q1519623004ND
2016-09-27Q1640887005ND
2017-07-17Q1729392002ND
2018-08-27Q1834371004ND
2019-07-18Q1946119001ND