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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Bethany Bay Ocean View

2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) is a herbicide that can be applied directly to GMO corn and soy plants engineered to withstand this toxic chemical. Americans' exposures to 2,4-D from food and drinking water will likely increase in years to come as farmers plant more of these GMO crops. Read More.

2,4-D is an endocrine disruptor that interferes with thyroid hormones. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies 2,4-D as possibly carcinogenic to humans. In occupational studies, farmers exposed to 2,4-D tended to have higher incidences of damaged and malformed sperm. Laboratory animals exposed to 2,4-D during gestation are born underdeveloped and are more likely to have birth defects.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
20150.01000 ppb91ND - 0.0900 ppb
2016ND20ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018ND60ND
2019ND20ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 20 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 20 ppb for 2,4-D was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against harm to internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 70 ppb

The legal limit for 2,4-D, established in 1991, was based on toxicity studies in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against harm to the nervous system, harm to the thyroid, and hormone disruption.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2015-04-2235185735004ND
2015-04-2235185728002ND
2015-04-2335185746003ND
2015-06-03351918960060.0900 ppb
2015-07-2835199879004ND
2015-07-2835199877004ND
2015-07-2835199876003ND
2015-08-2135204422003ND
2015-10-2635214322001ND
2016-01-2635227012001ND
2016-09-2635267825001ND
2018-04-172309734004ND
2018-04-252311953003ND
2018-05-302318334003ND
2018-08-012330455004ND
2018-08-012330453004ND
2018-08-022330461004ND
2019-05-284311344ND
2019-08-074384274ND