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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Rubio Canon Land & Water Association

Dry cleaning chemical tetrachloroethylene, or perc, can cause cancer. It pollutes soil and groundwater due to emissions from dry cleaning facilities, and automotive, metalworking and other industries. Read More.

The EPA considers tetrachloroethylene a likely human carcinogen. It has been linked with increased incidence of lung, breast and colon cancers. Tetrachloroethylene also damages the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.06 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 80 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 5 parts per billion.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

55

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

38

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.269 ppb72ND - 1.30 ppb
20150.726 ppb73ND - 3.90 ppb
20160.921 ppb85ND - 3.60 ppb
20171.19 ppb118ND - 2.60 ppb
20181.40 ppb1110ND - 3.70 ppb
20191.82 ppb1110ND - 4.60 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.06 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.06 ppb for tetrachloroethylene 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 tetrachloroethylene, established in 1991, 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 tetrachloroethylene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-063761-007-0645ND
2014-02-033761-007-08451.30 ppb
2014-02-033761-004-0845ND
2014-02-033761-003-0715ND
2014-04-073761-007-0703ND
2014-07-073761-007-06500.580 ppb
2014-10-063761-007-0750ND
2015-01-053761-007-0650ND
2015-02-023761-004-07003.90 ppb
2015-02-023761-003-0750ND
2015-02-023761-007-07000.610 ppb
2015-04-063761-007-0655ND
2015-07-063761-007-0700ND
2015-10-193761-007-06050.570 ppb
2016-01-043761-007-0650ND
2016-02-013761-003-0745ND
2016-02-013761-004-06551.90 ppb
2016-02-013761-007-0655ND
2016-04-043761-007-06550.630 ppb
2016-07-053761-007-06400.600 ppb
2016-10-033761-007-06450.640 ppb
2016-12-273761-004-07053.60 ppb
2017-01-103761-004-06452.60 ppb
2017-01-103761-007-0645ND
2017-02-063761-007-07400.550 ppb
2017-02-063761-003-0905ND
2017-02-063761-004-07402.60 ppb
2017-04-033761-004-07052.30 ppb
2017-04-033761-007-08200.800 ppb
2017-07-053761-004-07051.50 ppb
2017-07-053761-007-0705ND
2017-10-103761-004-06502.10 ppb
2017-10-103761-007-06500.600 ppb
2018-01-023761-004-06303.00 ppb
2018-01-023761-007-06300.700 ppb
2018-02-053761-003-0750ND
2018-02-053761-004-06361.30 ppb
2018-02-053761-007-06360.500 ppb
2018-04-023761-004-06401.30 ppb
2018-04-023761-007-06400.600 ppb
2018-07-023761-007-07300.650 ppb
2018-07-023761-004-07303.70 ppb
2018-10-083761-007-06450.500 ppb
2018-10-083761-004-06453.10 ppb
2019-01-083761-007-07450.620 ppb
2019-01-083761-004-07452.10 ppb
2019-02-053761-007-08090.530 ppb
2019-02-053761-004-11483.70 ppb
2019-02-053761-003-0932ND
2019-04-023761-004-08243.10 ppb
2019-04-023761-007-08260.660 ppb
2019-07-153761-007-06570.600 ppb
2019-07-153761-004-06523.40 ppb
2019-10-073761-007-08050.700 ppb
2019-10-073761-004-07424.60 ppb