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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Telford Borough Authority

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

 

86

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND140ND
2015ND140ND
2016ND160ND
2017ND140ND
2018ND140ND
2019ND140ND

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
2014-02-1120140538ND
2014-02-1120140540ND
2014-02-1120140539ND
2014-04-0220141150ND
2014-04-0220141147ND
2014-04-0220141149ND
2014-04-0220141148ND
2014-06-0320141878ND
2014-07-1620142431ND
2014-07-1620142433ND
2014-07-1620142432ND
2014-11-0514110360-003ND
2014-11-0514110360-002ND
2014-11-0514110360-001ND
2015-02-1112403522ND
2015-02-1112403564ND
2015-02-1112403543ND
2015-04-1412635043ND
2015-04-1412634959ND
2015-04-1412635022ND
2015-04-1412634980ND
2015-04-1412635001ND
2015-07-1413014694ND
2015-07-1413014696ND
2015-07-1413014695ND
2015-10-0713390820ND
2015-10-0713390799ND
2015-10-0713390778ND
2016-01-1813754468ND
2016-03-0213871958ND
2016-03-0213871937ND
2016-04-1314104833ND
2016-04-1314104917ND
2016-04-1314104875ND
2016-04-1314104896ND
2016-04-1314104854ND
2016-07-1314572206ND
2016-07-1314572260ND
2016-07-1314572308ND
2016-07-1314572287ND
2016-07-1314572233ND
2016-10-1215077675ND
2016-10-1215077717ND
2016-10-1215077696ND
2017-02-1515657725ND
2017-02-1515657704ND
2017-02-1515657746ND
2017-05-0316097074ND
2017-05-0316097053ND
2017-05-0316096990ND
2017-05-0316097032ND
2017-05-0316097011ND
2017-08-0216568601ND
2017-08-0216568580ND
2017-08-0216568559ND
2017-11-0117025488ND
2017-11-0117025467ND
2017-11-0117025509ND
2018-02-1220180562ND
2018-02-1220180561ND
2018-02-1220180560ND
2018-05-0320181778ND
2018-05-0320181777ND
2018-05-0320181776ND
2018-05-0320181775ND
2018-05-0320181774ND
2018-08-0120182931ND
2018-08-0120182933ND
2018-08-0120182932ND
2018-11-278114737-01ND
2018-11-278114737-02ND
2018-11-278114737-03ND
2019-02-0620190503ND
2019-02-0620190505ND
2019-02-0620190504ND
2019-05-0120191635ND
2019-05-0120191636ND
2019-05-0120191633ND
2019-05-0120191634ND
2019-05-0120191637ND
2019-08-0720193060ND
2019-08-0720193062ND
2019-08-0720193061ND
2019-11-0620194361ND
2019-11-0620194363ND
2019-11-0620194362ND