What Is Carbon Tetrachloride?
ATSDR says carbon tetrachloride is most often found in air as a colorless gas, is not flammable, and was used to make refrigeration fluid and aerosol propellants, and as a pesticide, cleaning fluid, degreasing agent, fire extinguisher chemical and spot remover. Because of its harmful effects, it says those uses are now banned and it is only used in some industrial applications.
ATSDR says high exposure can cause liver, kidney and central nervous system damage after swallowing or breathing it, and possibly from skin exposure, and that the liver is especially sensitive because it enlarges and its cells are damaged or destroyed. It reports that HHS considers carbon tetrachloride reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen, IARC considers it possibly carcinogenic to humans, and the EPA considers it a probable human carcinogen.
The EPA's final rule, effective January 17, 2025, sets workplace safety requirements for most conditions of use, including making low global warming potential hydrofluoroolefins, and prohibits uses where information indicates use has ceased. The EPA sought comment in October 2025 on reconsidering the rule after legal challenges, and a final rule effective July 28, 2026 extended some workplace protection compliance dates to June 21 and September 20, 2027.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceATSDR says carbon tetrachloride was used in refrigeration fluid, aerosol propellants, pesticides, cleaning fluids, fire extinguishers and spot removers, uses now banned so it is only used in some industrial applications. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Government sourceATSDR says high exposure to carbon tetrachloride can cause liver, kidney and central nervous system damage, and that the liver is especially sensitive. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Government sourceATSDR reports that HHS considers carbon tetrachloride reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen, IARC considers it possibly carcinogenic to humans, and the EPA considers it a probable human carcinogen. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Regulatory filingThe EPA's carbon tetrachloride rule, effective January 17, 2025, sets workplace safety requirements for most uses and prohibits uses where information indicates use has ceased. US EPA, Federal Register, via GovInfo ↗
- Regulatory filingIn October 2025 the EPA sought public comment on reconsidering its carbon tetrachloride rule, following legal challenges filed in 2025. US EPA, Federal Register, via GovInfo ↗
- Regulatory filingIn a final rule effective July 28, 2026, the EPA extended carbon tetrachloride workplace protection compliance dates for non-federal owners and operators to June 21, 2027 and September 20, 2027. US EPA, Federal Register, via GovInfo ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.