This fact sheet is part of a series of chemical fact sheets to address community concerns on public health and environmental issues associated with the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR). Terms identified in bold are defined in the glossary.

WHAT IS CARBON TETRACHLORIDE?

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) is a clear, man-made liquid with a sweet odor. It is not flammable and does not dissolve in water very easily. It was used widely in the production of refrigerator coolants and propellants for aerosol cans. It also was used as an industrial degreasing agent and cleaning fluid, in fire extinguishers, and in laundry spot removers. However, these uses, as well as all production of CCl₄, are being phased out by the year 2000 due to the ozone-depleting potential of the chemical. This was a requirement of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

HOW WAS CCl4 USED AT THE MMR?

CCl4 was used to clean electronic components for avionics, radar, and communication systems to support operations at the base..

WHAT HAPPENS TO CCl4 WHEN IT ENTERS THE ENVIRONMENT?

• It moves very quickly into the air upon release, so most of it is found in the air.
• It evaporates very quickly from soil and surface water.
• It is very stable in air (lifetime of 30-100 years).
• Rain or snow carries some of it to soil and water where it can filter through the ground and may reach drinking water supplies.
• Only a small amount sticks to soil; the rest evaporates or moves into the groundwater.
• It can be broken down or transformed in soil and water within several days.
• It does not build up in animals. It is not known whether it builds up in plants.

HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO CCl4?

You can be exposed to CCl4 only when you come in contact with it by drinking, breathing, eating, or touching it. Examples include:You can be exposed to CCl4 only when you come in contact with it by drinking, breathing, eating, or touching it. Examples include:

• Drinking contaminated water.
• Breathing contaminated air.
• Touching contaminated water such as while swimming or bathing.
• Touching or incidentally ingesting contaminated soil.

HOW MAY CCl4 AFFECT MY HEALTH?

If you are not exposed to CCl₄, it does not pose a risk to your health. If there is exposure to CCl₄, several factors will determine whether harmful effects may occur and what the type and severity of those health effects may be. These factors include:

• The dose (how much)
• The duration (how long)
• The route or pathway by which you are exposed (breathing, eating, drinking, or skin contact)
• Other chemicals to which you are exposed
• Various other personal factors (e.g., age, sex, family traits, lifestyle, personal health)

In scientific experiments conducted on laboratory animals using high doses, results indicated that exposure to high levels of CCl4 may cause liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage.

Similar effects are also seen in people from either eating, drinking, or breathing high levels of CCl4 and possibly from exposure to the skin. The liver is especially sensitive to CCl4 because it causes swelling and cells are damaged or destroyed. Kidneys also may be damaged, causing a buildup of wastes in the blood. If exposure is low and then stops, the liver and kidneys can repair the damaged cells and function normally again. If exposure is very high, the nervous system, including the brain, may be affected. In severe cases, coma and even death may occur. Feelings of intoxication, dizziness, and headaches may subside if exposure is stopped.

It is important to note that the levels of contaminants found at MMR are significantly lower than the high doses used in laboratory studies.

IS CCl4 LIKELY TO CAUSE CANCER?

In laboratory studies, animals that ingested CCl4 over a long time developed liver cancer. It is not known whether breathing CCl4 causes cancer in animals. Although there is insufficient evidence that CCl4 causes cancer in humans, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed CCl4 as a probable human carcinogen based on evidence that it causes cancer in laboratory animals. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has determined that it may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen.

WHAT FEDERAL AND STATE STANDARDS EXIST TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT?

The EPA has established a safe drinking water limit for CCl4 of 5 parts per billion (ppb). The State of Massachusetts adopted this standard for drinking water. Massachusetts also has established a surface water quality standard for CCl4 of 4.5 ppb for the protection of people who consume fish from contaminated surface waters. Additionally, the State has established guidelines of 0.001 ppb as an annual average concentration for ambient air levels of CCl4.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CHEMICAL?

For additional technical information and a review of current research, contact EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791, the Massachusetts Office of Research and Standards at (617) 556-1160, or see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) Toxicological Profile for Carbon Tetrachloride. Information about obtaining this profile is available by calling ATSDR's 24-hour Toxicology Information Service at (404) 639-6300 or by leaving a message on (888) 422-8737. To order toxicological profiles contact the National Technical Information Service at (800) 553-6847 or (703) 605-6000. There may be a fee for the profile.

GLOSSARY

parts per billion: a measure of concentration. One ppb is comparable to one kernel of corn in a filled, 45-foot silo, 16 feet in diameter.

POINTS OF CONTACT

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information about the cleanup program at the MMR is available on the program's website (http://www.mmr.org). The website includes a variety of information, including technical documents, meetings agendas and summaries, maps, glossaries, weekly reports, and news releases. It also includes links to other websites, including those of EPA Region 1, DEP, DPH, and ATSDR.

In addition, five local libraries house information repositories for the cleanup program. The libraries are:

The Administrative Record, which is a public record of all documents used in decision-making, is available for review at the Falmouth Public Library or by contacting the IRP Office at (508) 968-4678.

This fact sheet was developed through a collaborative effort of the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Joint Program Office (JPO), and local officials.