s r4r ts&I ^»t pho^^ FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT GENERAL INFORMATION Synonyms: • CCI4; Methane Tetrachloride; Tetrachloromethane; Percmoroethane Chemical Description: • Synthetic organic compound; no natural sources Properties: • Clear, highly volatile liquid • Non-flammable • Limrtea solubility in water, soluble in most organic solvents • Boiling point. 76,5°C Production and Use: • Production m 1983 was aoout 600 million pounds • Also procuced as a oy-product of the manufacturing of chlorinated materials • Major use is m proauction of chlorofluorocarbons; also used m fumigants. metai cleaners, ana manufacturing of paints ana plastics ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE Occurrence: • Ubiauftous in air at concentrations less than 10 parts per trillion; rarely found In surface water • EPA estimates less than 1% of ground water used for dnnking water contains CCI4 at concentrations greater than 0.5 ng/L • No information available on CCt< concentration in food; CC'.4 was largely replaced In 1980 as a grain fumigan' Releases: • Enters the environment, primarily by evaporation from accidentia releases, from production and use areas, or aunng aisposai in landfills or surfocs water Environmental Fate: • Half life 70.000 years in water, 30-100 years in atmosphere • Stable. siigntiy heavierthan water, migrates readily in soil • Evaporates from surface water to atmosphere within a few days or weeks • Does not oioaccumuiate in individual animals or food cnains HEALTH EFFECTS Humans: • Causes liver, kidney, and lung damage, central nervous system depression, ana death • Data are inadequate to categorically state that CCi4isa human carcinogen; however, there is ample animal data to classify CCi4asa group 82 carcinogen, a probable human carcinogen Experimental Animals: • Single oral doses m rats or mice—adverse liver, kidney, and lung effects • Long-term oral exposure, 12weeta in rats-aaverse liver effects • No reproductive effects reported; no developmental effects studies located • induces liver ceil proliferation in in vivo and in vitro assays dnd is weakly mutagenic in some ceil lines • High doses Of CCI4 for 6 months or longer in rats, mice, and hamsters—liver tumors REGULATORY HISTORY Existing Standards; • Clean Air Act (CAA): Registered • Clean Water Act (CWA): Reportable Quantify unaer 10 pounds • SDWA: Registered • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA>: listed • Supeifund (CEKCLA): Reportable Quantity 5.000' pounds » SARA: Listed • Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and RodentJcide Act (FIFRA): Banned for use as a furr.igant • Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): Cn inventory ------- HEALTH INFORMATION ANALYTICAL METHODS Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG): • Ncn-enforceccie levels based solely on an evaluation of possible neatth risks ana exposure, and taking info consideration a margin for public safety • Set at zero for cancer-causing chemicals in water MCLG for CCl4 ¦ 0 mg/l Maximum Contaminant levels (MCI): • Legally enforceable levels for contaminants In public drinking water supplies • Based on health risks associated with the contaminants, analytical methods for their assay, and water treatment feasibility and practicality aspects MCI for CCl, ¦ 0.005 mg/l (adopted 7/8/873 EPA Health Advisories (HA): • Short-term HAs: Provide acceptable concentrations of contaminants in waterfor up to 10 day exposures, primarily to evaluate the public health risk resulting from an accidental spill or an emergency contamination situation • longer-term HAs: Provide guidance for persistent water contamination situations to cover a period of up to 7 years • lifetime HAs: Derived in the same way as an MCLG Health Advisories: Short-term HA for a child ¦ 0.16 mg/l longer-term HA for a child ¦ 0.071 mg/l Longer-term HA for an adult» 0.25 mg/l « Gas chromatography EPA Method 502 WATER TREATMENT Permanent Treatment: lest Available Technology (BAD: - granular activated carbon adsorption - aeration - boiling - air stripping SHORT-TERM HAZARD ELIMINATION • if the drinking water standards are exceeded, install BAT or us© an alternative drinking water supply sucn as bottled water • Boiling water for 5 minutes may remove cs much as 99% of CCt4 present, but CC:4 is not cegrcdec— potential inhalation hazard ADDITIONAL HELP • State or county health officials can indicate a certified laboratory for testing • Experts in the state Department of Environmental Protection or Natural Resources may also be of neip • The EPA has toll-free numbers for further information on drinking wdter dudiity, treatment -echnciogies. for obtaining Health Advisories, and for other reguiotory informotion • EPA Hotlines are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST: ~Safe Drinking Water: 800-426-4791 ~Air Quality: 800-631 -2700 •National Pesticides: 800-858-PEST * Superfund/RCRA: 800-424-9346 800-343-3958 • For information on the C'.ean Water Act. call (202) 260-7301 • For information on the Toxic Substances Control Act, call (202)554-1404 ------- |