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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

City of Pineville Water System

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

44

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND220ND
2017ND20ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND180ND

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
2014-03-10AD89665ND
2014-03-10AD89665ND
2016-09-1535265896005ND
2016-09-1535265896005ND
2016-09-2835268029012ND
2016-09-2835268029009ND
2016-09-2835268029010ND
2016-09-2835268029011ND
2016-09-2835268029012ND
2016-09-2835268029013ND
2016-09-2835268029011ND
2016-09-2835268029010ND
2016-09-2835268029009ND
2016-09-2835268029013ND
2016-10-0535271142004ND
2016-10-0535271142003ND
2016-10-0535271142003ND
2016-10-0535271142002ND
2016-10-0535271142001ND
2016-10-0535271142004ND
2016-10-0535271142002ND
2016-10-0535271142001ND
2016-12-1535283877001ND
2016-12-1535283877001ND
2017-09-2735338974001ND
2017-09-2735338974001ND
2019-07-1835483366003ND
2019-07-1835483366005ND
2019-07-1835483366004ND
2019-07-1835483366002ND
2019-07-1835483366001ND
2019-07-1835483366001ND
2019-07-1835483366002ND
2019-07-1835483366003ND
2019-07-1835483366004ND
2019-07-1835483366005ND
2019-07-2535485313001ND
2019-07-2535485313004ND
2019-07-2535485313003ND
2019-07-2535485313002ND
2019-07-2535485313001ND
2019-07-2535485313004ND
2019-07-2535485313003ND
2019-07-2535485313002ND