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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

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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

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