Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

City of Keizer

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

116

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.171 ppb	28	8	ND - 0.700 ppb
2015	0.317 ppb	12	6	ND - 0.700 ppb
2016	0.345 ppb	11	6	ND - 0.800 ppb
2017	0.511 ppb	18	10	ND - 1.50 ppb
2018	0.756 ppb	18	15	ND - 1.80 ppb
2019	0.169 ppb	29	7	ND - 0.800 ppb

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
2014-01-15	401160702-V	0.600 ppb
2014-02-11	402121404-V	0.600 ppb
2014-03-06	403070208-V	0.600 ppb
2014-04-15	404162004-V	0.700 ppb
2014-04-15	404162002-V	ND
2014-04-15	404162003-V	ND
2014-05-22	405231101-V	0.600 ppb
2014-06-18	406192308-V	0.500 ppb
2014-07-16	407171404-V	ND
2014-08-05	408063504-V	ND
2014-09-18	409191301-V	ND
2014-10-22	410231201-V	0.500 ppb
2014-11-04	411053207-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053209-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053201-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053213-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053208-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053204-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053214-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053203-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053202-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053205-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053211-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053210-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053212-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053215-V	ND
2014-11-04	411053206-V	ND
2014-12-16	412171804-V	0.700 ppb
2015-01-15	501160902-V	0.700 ppb
2015-02-23	502240801-V	0.700 ppb
2015-03-11	503120901-V	0.600 ppb
2015-04-14	504151801-V	0.700 ppb
2015-05-20	505210908-V	0.600 ppb
2015-06-09	506103105-V	0.500 ppb
2015-07-07	507082604-V	ND
2015-08-13	508140609-V	ND
2015-09-03	509040604-V	ND
2015-10-08	510090805-V	ND
2015-11-18	511191608-V	ND
2015-12-15	512131105-V	ND
2016-01-12	601130909-V	ND
2016-02-10	602111309-V	ND
2016-03-10	603110404-V	ND
2016-05-25	605252206-V	ND
2016-06-07	606081304-V	0.800 ppb
2016-07-12	607131804-V	ND
2016-08-04	608050709-V	0.600 ppb
2016-09-01	609020305-V	0.600 ppb
2016-10-11	610120804-V	0.700 ppb
2016-11-08	611093109-V	0.500 ppb
2016-12-13	612141704-V	0.600 ppb
2017-01-10	701110604-V	0.600 ppb
2017-02-16	702170208-V	ND
2017-03-14	703151304-V	ND
2017-04-05	704060802-V	0.700 ppb
2017-05-17	705181003-V	ND
2017-06-20	706212709-V	1.000 ppb
2017-06-20	706212710-V	0.700 ppb
2017-07-20	707211103-V	1.50 ppb
2017-07-20	707211106-V	0.700 ppb
2017-08-10	708111305-V	1.40 ppb
2017-08-10	708111306-V	0.500 ppb
2017-09-21	709220811-V	1.30 ppb
2017-09-21	709220812-V	ND
2017-10-17	710182608-V	ND
2017-10-17	710182607-V	ND
2017-11-07	711081508-V	ND
2017-12-21	712220711-V	0.800 ppb
2017-12-21	712220712-V	ND
2018-01-23	801242005-V	0.500 ppb
2018-01-23	801242006-V	0.500 ppb
2018-02-15	802160708-V	ND
2018-03-15	803160509-V	ND
2018-04-19	804200601-V	0.900 ppb
2018-04-19	804200602-V	0.500 ppb
2018-05-22	805231707-V	1.000 ppb
2018-05-22	805231708-V	0.700 ppb
2018-06-21	806221311-V	1.50 ppb
2018-06-21	806221312-V	0.600 ppb
2018-08-07	808083105-V	1.80 ppb
2018-08-07	808083106-V	ND
2018-09-13	809140412-V	1.70 ppb
2018-09-13	809140411-V	0.600 ppb
2018-10-10	810110908-V	1.20 ppb
2018-10-10	810110907-V	0.700 ppb
2018-11-08	811090405-V	0.700 ppb
2018-12-27	812280211-V	0.700 ppb
2019-01-10	901110906-V	0.700 ppb
2019-02-21	902221005-V	ND
2019-03-14	903150712-V	ND
2019-03-14	903150709-V	0.800 ppb
2019-04-18	904190607-V	ND
2019-04-18	904190608-V	0.700 ppb
2019-05-16	905171907-V	ND
2019-05-16	905171908-V	0.700 ppb
2019-06-11	906112011-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112004-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112012-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112001-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112013-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112002-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112014-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112003-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112010-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112008-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112009-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112015-V	ND
2019-06-11	906112005-V	ND
2019-06-13	906142007-V	ND
2019-06-13	906142010-V	ND
2019-07-18	907191107-V	ND
2019-07-18	907191108-V	0.700 ppb
2019-08-21	908223308-V	ND
2019-09-12	909131412-V	0.700 ppb
2019-10-10	910110406-V	ND
2019-12-18	912190712-V	0.600 ppb