Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Carbon tetrachloride

Awc Valley Forge Crossing 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.

 

22

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND70ND
2019ND60ND

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
2014-09-092028134003ND
2014-09-092028134001ND
2015-06-0112750208ND
2015-06-0112750229ND
2015-06-0112750250ND
2016-05-0414251469ND
2016-05-0414251492ND
2017-02-1015656084ND
2017-02-1015656105ND
2018-04-121808892-01ND
2018-04-121808892-03ND
2018-04-121808892-02ND
2018-09-182339349005ND
2018-09-182339349003ND
2018-09-182339349001ND
2018-12-213007545001ND
2019-03-223026957001ND
2019-04-163028568002ND
2019-04-163028568003ND
2019-09-093056650002ND
2019-10-043062099002ND
2019-10-223065360002ND