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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Telford Borough Authority

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

 

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 0.06 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
2014-02-1120140538ND
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
2015-02-1112403526ND
2015-02-1112403568ND
2015-02-1112403547ND
2015-04-1412635047ND
2015-04-1412634963ND
2015-04-1412635026ND
2015-04-1412634984ND
2015-04-1412635005ND
2015-07-1413014706ND
2015-07-1413014708ND
2015-07-1413014707ND
2015-10-0713390824ND
2015-10-0713390803ND
2015-10-0713390782ND
2016-01-1813754472ND
2016-03-0213871962ND
2016-03-0213871941ND
2016-04-1314104837ND
2016-04-1314104921ND
2016-04-1314104879ND
2016-04-1314104900ND
2016-04-1314104858ND
2016-07-1314572210ND
2016-07-1314572264ND
2016-07-1314572312ND
2016-07-1314572291ND
2016-07-1314572237ND
2016-10-1215077679ND
2016-10-1215077721ND
2016-10-1215077700ND
2017-02-1515657729ND
2017-02-1515657708ND
2017-02-1515657750ND
2017-05-0316097078ND
2017-05-0316097057ND
2017-05-0316096994ND
2017-05-0316097036ND
2017-05-0316097015ND
2017-08-0216568605ND
2017-08-0216568584ND
2017-08-0216568563ND
2017-11-0117025492ND
2017-11-0117025471ND
2017-11-0117025513ND
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