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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Golden State Water Company (GSWC) - South San Gabriel

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.

 

46

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND110ND
2017ND110ND
2018ND120ND
2019ND120ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2016-02-102706-046-1234ND
2016-03-092706-046-1040ND
2016-04-112706-046-1413ND
2016-05-122706-046-1239ND
2016-06-202706-046-1345ND
2016-07-112706-046-1047ND
2016-08-080007-046-1427ND
2016-09-122706-046-1426ND
2016-10-102706-046-1217ND
2016-11-072706-046-1228ND
2016-12-152706-046-1108ND
2017-01-099590-046-1354ND
2017-02-149590-046-1223ND
2017-03-139590-046-1342ND
2017-04-109590-046-1140ND
2017-05-089590-046-1304ND
2017-07-109590-046-1139ND
2017-08-079590-046-1022ND
2017-09-119590-046-1159ND
2017-10-099590-046-1122ND
2017-11-149590-046-1057ND
2017-12-119590-046-1308ND
2018-01-119590-046-1240ND
2018-02-129590-046-1249ND
2018-03-129590-046-1351ND
2018-04-119590-046-1321ND
2018-05-109590-046-1028ND
2018-06-129590-046-1157ND
2018-07-109590-046-1032ND
2018-08-139590-046-1114ND
2018-09-129590-046-1255ND
2018-10-269590-046-0935ND
2018-11-139590-046-1150ND
2018-12-109590-046-0926ND
2019-01-079590-046-1111ND
2019-02-129590-046-0920ND
2019-03-269590-046-1030ND
2019-04-089590-046-0917ND
2019-05-139590-046-1048ND
2019-06-109590-046-0958ND
2019-07-109590-046-1030ND
2019-08-129590-046-1234ND
2019-09-129590-046-1054ND
2019-10-299590-046-0914ND
2019-11-139590-046-0904ND
2019-12-099590-046-1254ND