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 miceadverse 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 hamstersliver 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 ------- |