What is Trichlorotrifluoroethane and Why Does It Matter?

Trichlorotrifluoroethane (also called CFC-113 or Freon 113) is a synthetic chemical that was once widely used as an industrial solvent and refrigerant. For decades, electronics manufacturers used it to clean circuit boards and metal parts. It also appeared in aerosol propellants and fire suppressants. When these products were improperly disposed of or leaked from industrial sites, the chemical made its way into soil and eventually into groundwater. From there, it can reach municipal water supplies and private wells.

Health researchers have studied CFC-113 primarily in the context of workplace exposure, where workers inhaled large amounts. At high concentrations, the chemical affects the central nervous system, causing dizziness, confusion, and in severe cases, cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Long-term low-level exposure through drinking water is less studied, but the chemical belongs to a class of chlorinated solvents that raise concern for liver and kidney stress over time. The EPA has not classified CFC-113 as a known human carcinogen, but that doesn't mean ongoing exposure is without risk — especially for children and pregnant women, whose bodies are more vulnerable to chemical disruption.

The EPA has set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 1,200 parts per billion (ppb) for trichlorotrifluoroethane in drinking water. That number is extremely high compared to most regulated contaminants, which means it was designed to address acute industrial spills rather than everyday low-level exposure. No water systems in the current dataset exceeded that legal limit. The average detected level across the 15 affected systems was 1.184 ppb, and the highest single measurement came in at 8.76 ppb — still well below the EPA threshold. However, the EPA limit reflects what's technically enforceable, not necessarily what's safe for daily consumption over a lifetime. Independent health researchers often recommend treating any detectable level of a synthetic industrial solvent as a reason to filter your water.

Geographically, New York and California each account for 5 of the 15 water systems where this chemical was detected. Wisconsin follows with 3 systems, while Utah and Minnesota each report 1. That pattern makes sense when you consider industrial history. New York's Hudson Valley and Long Island have well-documented legacies of electronics manufacturing and military base contamination. California's Silicon Valley was built on semiconductor production, which relied heavily on solvents like CFC-113 for decades. Wisconsin's manufacturing corridor adds another layer of industrial exposure. These aren't random detections — they trace back to specific industries that operated in these regions for generations and left chemical footprints in the ground.

The good news is that CFC-113 responds well to filtration. Activated carbon filters, particularly those using granular activated carbon (GAC) or solid carbon block technology, are effective at reducing chlorinated solvents from drinking water. A reverse osmosis (ROS) system goes even further, removing a broad range of synthetic chemicals including CFC-113 at the point of use — meaning right at your tap. If you live in New York, California, or Wisconsin and your water comes from a municipal system with an industrial past, it's worth pulling your annual water quality report (called a Consumer Confidence Report) to check for this and similar solvents. Echo Water's filtration systems use multi-stage carbon and reverse osmosis technology specifically designed to reduce synthetic industrial chemicals like these. At detected levels this low, you're not facing an emergency — but filtering your drinking water is a smart, straightforward step that removes the uncertainty entirely.

Regulatory Standards for Trichlorotrifluoroethane

Cities With the Highest Trichlorotrifluoroethane Levels

States Most Affected by Trichlorotrifluoroethane

Frequently Asked Questions

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