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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Windhaven Mobile Home Park

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.

 

51

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND80ND
2015ND90ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND80ND

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
2014-02-1014020727-03ND
2014-02-1014020727-04ND
2014-05-0814050814-03ND
2014-05-0814050814-04ND
2014-09-1214091269-03ND
2014-09-1214091269-04ND
2014-11-0514110544-03ND
2014-11-0514110544-04ND
2015-02-0412399773ND
2015-02-0412399794ND
2015-06-0312880297ND
2015-06-0312880298ND
2015-06-1912880299ND
2015-09-0113262913ND
2015-09-0113262934ND
2015-11-0413387165ND
2015-11-0413387186ND
2016-02-0913868488ND
2016-02-0913868467ND
2016-05-1214248672ND
2016-05-1214248651ND
2016-05-1214248693ND
2016-05-1214248628ND
2016-11-0715224070ND
2016-11-0715224048ND
2017-02-0815653108ND
2017-02-0815653087ND
2017-05-1916092008ND
2017-05-1916092031ND
2017-05-1916092115ND
2017-05-1916092094ND
2017-08-2316563351ND
2017-08-2316563372ND
2017-11-1417021374ND
2017-11-1417021395ND
2018-02-068021819-04ND
2018-02-068021819-03ND
2018-05-178053832-03ND
2018-05-178053832-04ND
2018-08-148083605-03ND
2018-08-148083605-04ND
2018-11-218114128-01ND
2018-11-218114128-02ND
2019-02-129022854-03ND
2019-02-129022854-06ND
2019-05-209054272-01ND
2019-05-209054272-04ND
2019-08-129083617-03ND
2019-08-129083617-06ND
2019-11-119112787-06ND
2019-11-119112787-03ND