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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

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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.

 

44

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND60ND
2015ND60ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND80ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-01-29AC17716ND
2014-01-29AC17715ND
2014-08-26AC30084ND
2014-08-26AC30083ND
2014-10-28AC37394ND
2014-10-28AC37395ND
2015-01-29AC41374ND
2015-01-29AC41375ND
2015-08-03AC55481ND
2015-08-03AC55480ND
2015-11-03AC62091ND
2015-11-03AC62092ND
2016-02-02AC65849ND
2016-02-02AC65848ND
2016-04-27AC70184ND
2016-04-27AC70183ND
2016-08-02AC80852ND
2016-08-02AC80853ND
2016-10-24AC86083ND
2016-10-24AC86082ND
2017-01-25AC89912ND
2017-01-25AC89913ND
2017-04-24AC95154ND
2017-04-24AC95153ND
2017-08-22AD02420ND
2017-08-22AD02421ND
2017-11-15AD08684ND
2017-11-15AD08683ND
2018-01-24AD12098ND
2018-01-24AD12099ND
2018-05-08AD18751ND
2018-05-08AD18752ND
2018-07-16AD29653ND
2018-07-16AD29652ND
2018-10-23AD35208ND
2018-10-23AD35209ND
2019-01-28AD38516ND
2019-01-28AD38517ND
2019-04-24AD46856ND
2019-04-24AD46857ND
2019-07-22AD52850ND
2019-07-22AD52851ND
2019-10-28AD57539ND
2019-10-28AD57540ND