Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Carbon tetrachloride

Fouke 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
2020ND30ND
2021ND40ND
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
2018-05-16Q1819991003ND
2018-05-16Q1819991006ND
2018-05-16Q1819991001ND
2019-06-06Q1932560012ND
2019-06-06Q1932560014ND
2019-06-06Q1932560016ND
2020-10-22Q2041268028ND
2020-10-22Q2041268030ND
2020-10-22Q2041268032ND
2021-01-25Q2101631005ND
2021-01-25Q2101631011ND
2021-01-25Q2101631009ND
2021-01-25Q2101631007ND
2022-10-12Q2230969006ND
2022-10-12Q2230969008ND
2022-10-12Q2230969010ND
2023-04-13Q2313726002ND
2023-07-11Q2326819004ND
2023-07-11Q2326819006ND