Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Trichloroethylene

City of Chico

Trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent and common groundwater pollutant, damages the immune system, harms the developing fetus and causes cancer. Read More.

Trichloroethylene was once commonly used to remove grease from metal parts, such as steel pipes and engines, and as a solvent in dry cleaning and carpet cleaning products. Drinking trichloroethylene-contaminated drinking water has been linked with birth defects, leukemia, and liver and kidney damage. Trichloroethylene is highly volatile and can enter indoor air through water in pipes. If trichloroethylene is present, people can inhale it while bathing, washing dishes and doing other household activities that involve water.

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: 0.4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for trichloroethylene was defined by the state of Minnesota as health risk limit, the concentration of a contaminant that can be consumed with little or no risk to health. This health guideline protects against harm to the developing fetus and damage to the immune system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 5 ppb

The legal limit for trichloroethylene, 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 and harm to the developing fetus.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-12-13Q1851676003ND
2018-12-13Q1851676006ND
2018-12-13Q1851676001ND
2019-01-08Q1900653001ND
2019-01-08Q1900653006ND
2019-01-08Q1900653010ND
2020-03-02Q2007727001ND
2020-06-01Q2021442001ND
2020-08-19Q2033209003ND
2020-08-19Q2033209001ND
2021-08-11Q2121372007ND
2021-08-11Q2121372009ND
2021-08-11Q2121372011ND
2022-09-08Q2226813001ND
2022-09-08Q2226813003ND
2022-09-08Q2226813005ND
2023-05-30Q2319948009ND
2023-05-30Q2319948011ND
2023-05-30Q2319948013ND