Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Monona Waterworks

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.

 

17

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

5

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.135 ppb21ND - 0.270 ppb
20190.155 ppb21ND - 0.310 ppb
2020ND10ND
20210.140 ppb52ND - 0.350 ppb
20220.0900 ppb31ND - 0.270 ppb
2023ND40ND

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
2018-07-113936040010.270 ppb
2018-09-25410134001ND
2019-04-244420840010.310 ppb
2019-09-05467810001ND
2020-07-20515426001ND
2021-02-115473620020.350 ppb
2021-02-11547362001ND
2021-02-115473620020.350 ppb
2021-02-11547362001ND
2021-09-17584334001ND
2022-03-22610616001ND
2022-03-236108690010.270 ppb
2022-09-13642092001ND
2023-03-17668942001ND
2023-03-21669257001ND
2023-03-21669257002ND
2023-07-11687958001ND