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Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

2,4-D is a herbicide used on row crops. Potential health impacts associated with 2,4-D include cancer, cardiovascular or blood toxicity, developmental toxicity, endocrine toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity. [read more]

Sources of 2,4-D:

Agriculture (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms)

An Environmental Working Group analysis of 2,4-D tests reported by 20,422 public water suppliers in 40 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 3.1 million people in 105 communities drank water contaminated with 2,4-D. In 1 of these communities, tap water was contaminated at levels above health-based thresholds.

Exposure Summary

3,135,754 People drinking water contaminated with 2,4-D 105 Communities served water contaminated with 2,4-D 70 People drinking water contaminated with 2,4-D over health based limits 1 Community served water with 2,4-D above health based limits

Table. 2,4-D Exposure by State

70 Americans in 1 states were served tap water contaminated with 2,4-D at levels above health-based limits between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with 2,4-D contamination		Water suppliers reporting 2,4-D above health-based limits
	Systems	Population	Systems	Population
Minnesota	1	70	1	70
Virginia	2	1,590,000	0	0
North Carolina	53	379,468	0	0
Florida	12	257,379	0	0
Indiana	5	243,772	0	0
Illinois	2	212,053	0	0
Arizona	5	196,399	0	0
Kentucky	6	102,838	0	0
California	1	57,520	0	0
Ohio	1	48,000	0	0
Alabama	1	17,670	0	0
Alaska	1	9,046	0	0
Iowa	4	6,692	0	0
New Mexico	1	6,500	0	0
Missouri	3	6,000	0	0
Wisconsin	4	1,467	0	0
Montana	1	400	0	0
Pennsylvania	1	250	0	0
Colorado	1	230	0	0
Total	105	3,135,754	1	70

Table. The most polluted communities

70 Americans in 1 communities were served tap water contaminated with 2,4-D above health based limits between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average 2,4-D level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Roseland Coop Well Blomkest, MN	70	1 of 11	109.09 ppb (0 to 1200 ppb)

Health based limits for 2,4-D

Health Limit	Limit Value	Limit Description
Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL)	70 ppb	The enforceable standard which defines the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to health-based limits (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, or MCLGs) as feasible using the best available analytical and treatment technologies and taking cost into consideration. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Maximum Contaminant Limit Goal (MCLG)	70 ppb	A non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
California Public Health Goals	70 ppb	Defined by the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as the level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. For acutely toxic substances, levels are set at which scientific evidence indicates that no known or anticipated adverse effects on health will occur, plus an adequate margin-of safety. PHGs for carcinogens or other substances which can cause chronic disease shall be based solely on health effects without regard to cost impacts and shall be set at levels which OEHHA has determined do not pose any significant risk to health.
EPA Human Health Water Quality Criteria	100 ppb	Water quality criteria set by the US EPA provide guidance for states and tribes authorized to establish water quality standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to protect human health. These are non-enforceable standards based upon exposure by both drinking water and the contribution of water contamination to other consumed foods. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Children's health-based limit for 1-day exposure	1000 ppb	Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for up to one day of exposure. The One-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Children's health-based limit for 10-day exposure	300 ppb	Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic effects for up to ten days of exposure. The Ten-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Lifetime health-based limit, non-cancer risk	70 ppb	Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for a lifetime of exposure. The Lifetime health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is based on exposure for a a 70-kg adult consuming 2 liters of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Drinking Water Equivalent Level	400 ppb	A lifetime exposure concentration protective of adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects, that assumes all of the exposure to a contaminant is from drinking water. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Testing Summary for 2,4-D

Water suppliers report an average of 0.4 2,4-D tests per year. 19,329 water suppliers failed to report any 2,4-D tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for 2,4-D by federal law? Yes Water suppliers reporting tests for 2,4-D (1998-2003): 20,422 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.4 per year

2,4-D Violations

Table. 2.7 percent of all water suppliers violated safe drinking water standards for 2,4-D between 1998 and 2003

Violation Type	Violations	Systems
Any Violation (1998-2003)	2,496	1,521
	(2.7% of all suppliers)
Testing violations (1998-2003)	2,488	1,521
	(2.7% of all suppliers)
Reporting violations (1998-2003)	8	8
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)