Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, or DEHP, is a softener added to PVC plastics. Phthalates are hormone disruptors that target the male reproductive system. Read More.
DEHP can cross the placenta and disrupt steroid hormone synthesis, and may lead to cancer. In laboratory animals, exposure to DEHP during pregnancy harms fetal developmental and causes abnormalities in the male reproductive tract. Human epidemiological studies show certain phthalates, especially DEHP, are associated with reduced anogenital distance in human male infants, which is a measure of adverse developmental effects in human male infants exposed prenatally to endocrine disrupting chemicals. DEHP may also interfere with signaling related to the timing of birth and may have adverse effects on the immune system.
2015-2017:
44
states detected
1,788
utilities detected
31 million
people served
14
states over health guideline
34
utilities over health guideline
89,087
people served over health guideline
2
states over legal limit
4
utilities over legal limit
652
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Harm to the male reproductive system
Harm to the immune system
Change to fetal growth and development
Hormone disruption
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 3 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 3 ppb for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 6 ppb
The legal limit for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Texas | 10 | 2,487 | 639 | 13,803,151 | |||
| Florida | 1 | 115 | 60 | 2,605,023 | |||
| Louisiana | 4 | 15,925 | 204 | 2,274,134 | |||
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1,643,902 | |||
| New York | 1 | 25 | 89 | 1,481,348 | |||
| Arizona | 2 | 630 | 33 | 1,115,039 | |||
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1,101,520 | |||
| Colorado | 1 | 350 | 49 | 897,058 | |||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 4 | 761,282 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 63 | 715,286 | |||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 29 | 645,301 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 975 | 65 | 463,662 | |||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 18 | 367,332 | |||
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 25 | 282,087 | |||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 72 | 274,039 | |||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 37 | 229,317 | |||
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 44 | 177,284 | |||
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 18 | 169,803 | |||
| California | 2 | 48,689 | 7 | 145,272 | |||
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 13 | 144,002 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 9 | 137,080 | |||
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 5 | 128,633 | |||
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | 30 | 123,309 | |||
| Idaho | 2 | 560 | 14 | 120,436 | |||
| Wisconsin | 5 | 16,863 | 39 | 120,191 | |||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 14 | 106,687 | |||
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 39 | 91,755 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 17 | 83,882 | |||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 19 | 72,280 | |||
| Montana | 1 | 53 | 12 | 65,357 | |||
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 3 | 41,376 | |||
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 8 | 28,530 | |||
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 6 | 23,873 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21,006 | |||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17,383 | |||
| Connecticut | 2 | 198 | 14 | 11,488 | |||
| Nebraska | 1 | 150 | 11 | 7,164 | |||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6,911 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5,701 | |||
| South Dakota | 1 | 2,067 | 2 | 2,534 | |||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1,562 | |||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1,448 | |||
| Wyoming | 0 | 0 | 3 | 918 | |||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 4 | 419 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 2015-2017
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodhaven Mobile Home Park | Pflugerville, TX | 1 of 2 | 14.0 ppb | 102 |
| Claire Street Water System | Vidor, TX | 1 of 1 | 13.0 ppb | 67 |
| Consolidated Water Supply Corporation 287 South | Crockett, TX | 1 of 4 | 7.45 ppb | 458 |
| White Pines South | Castleton, NY | 2 of 2 | 6.78 ppb | 25 |
| Sun Ranch Water System | Thompsons, TX | 1 of 1 | 5.70 ppb | 75 |
| Antrim Township Municipal Authority | Greencastle, PA | 1 of 4 | 5.68 ppb | 975 |
| City of Rialto | Rialto, CA | 1 of 2 | 5.50 ppb | 48,623 |
| Central Water System | Heflin, LA | 2 of 4 | 5.35 ppb | 1,350 |
| Timber Creek Estates | Conroe, TX | 1 of 1 | 5.20 ppb | 54 |
| City of Baker Water System | Baker, LA | 8 of 12 | 4.80 ppb | 13,855 |
| City of Melvin | Melvin, TX | 1 of 1 | 4.30 ppb | 300 |
| College View Park | Columbus, NE | 1 of 1 | 4.22 ppb | 150 |
| Tainter Woods Condominiums | Colfax, WI | 10 of 10 | 4.21 ppb | 85 |
| Lancaster Water Company | Lancaster, CA | 2 of 2 | 4.15 ppb | 66 |
| Shelbyville Water Supply Corporation | Shelbyville, TX | 1 of 3 | 4.03 ppb | 889 |
| Cash Point Landing | Bossier City, LA | 2 of 4 | 3.95 ppb | 225 |
| Dallas Waterworks | Dallas, WI | 2 of 2 | 3.95 ppb | 365 |
| Mount Hope Waterworks | Mount Hope, WI | 6 of 6 | 3.87 ppb | 181 |
| Hop River Homes | Andover, CT | 10 of 13 | 3.78 ppb | 26 |
| Hi Land Acres Water & Sanitation District | Brighton, CO | 3 of 6 | 3.78 ppb | 350 |
| Shaker Heights Water Company | Enfield, CT | 1 of 1 | 3.70 ppb | 172 |
| Beaver Dam Water Utility | Beaver Dam, WI | 1 of 1 | 3.50 ppb | 16,200 |
| Oakley Valley Water Corporation | Oakley, ID | 1 of 3 | 3.40 ppb | 500 |
| Custer | Custer, SD | 1 of 3 | 3.33 ppb | 2,067 |
| Annas House | New Franken, WI | 1 of 1 | 3.30 ppb | 32 |
| Bayridge Subdivision Water System | Houston, TX | 1 of 1 | 3.30 ppb | 243 |
| Payson Water - Gisela | Denver, AZ | 1 of 1 | 3.30 ppb | 480 |
| Bluegrove Water Supply Corporation | Bluegrove, TX | 1 of 1 | 3.30 ppb | 70 |
| Arroyo Water Company | Payson, AZ | 1 of 1 | 3.30 ppb | 150 |
| Jamestown Fryeburg Water System | Dubberly, LA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 495 |
| Kinard Estates | Vidor, TX | 1 of 1 | 3.20 ppb | 229 |
| Kootenai Woods Subdivision | Kalispell, MT | 1 of 2 | 3.15 ppb | 53 |
| Colonial Mobile Home Park | St Cloud, FL | 2 of 6 | 3.10 ppb | 115 |
| Jug Mountain Ranch Subdivision | Mccall, ID | 1 of 2 | 3.05 ppb | 60 |
| Weatherstone S/d | Oak Ridge, NC | 1 of 6 | 2.83 ppb | 267 |
| Durham Lexington Place Division | Durham, CT | 6 of 9 | 2.80 ppb | 45 |
| Cardinal Valley Estates 3rd Addition | Le Claire, IA | 7 of 12 | 2.79 ppb | 25 |
| City of Goldsmith | Goldsmith, TX | 9 of 11 | 2.75 ppb | 257 |
| Caney Creek Utility | Montgomery, TX | 2 of 3 | 2.73 ppb | 141 |
| 796 Bedford Road Apartments | Sleepy Hollow, NY | 3 of 4 | 2.70 ppb | 40 |
| Dona Ana MDWCA | Dona Ana, NM | 3 of 7 | 2.69 ppb | 11,214 |
| Connollys Trailer Park | Norwich, CT | 7 of 7 | 2.63 ppb | 74 |
| Goose Lake Muni Water System | Goose Lake, IA | 1 of 2 | 2.60 ppb | 240 |
| Greenleaf Waterworks | Greenleaf, WI | 1 of 1 | 2.60 ppb | 650 |
| Sunset View Estates | Laguna Beach, TX | 1 of 1 | 2.60 ppb | 55 |
| Bridlegate Subdivision | Boerne, TX | 1 of 1 | 2.60 ppb | 474 |
| Riverdale City Water System | Harrisville, UT | 4 of 8 | 2.58 ppb | 8,500 |
| Steele Creek Harbor | Itasca, TX | 1 of 2 | 2.55 ppb | 426 |
| Slatersville Public Supply | Slatersville, RI | 2 of 2 | 2.55 ppb | 3,224 |
| Town of Maringouin | Maringouin, LA | 8 of 14 | 2.51 ppb | 3,300 |
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Rialto | Rialto, CA | 1 of 2 | 5.50 ppb | 48,623 |
| City of Baker Water System | Baker, LA | 8 of 12 | 4.80 ppb | 13,855 |
| Beaver Dam Water Utility | Beaver Dam, WI | 1 of 1 | 3.50 ppb | 16,200 |
| Dona Ana MDWCA | Dona Ana, NM | 3 of 7 | 2.69 ppb | 11,214 |
| Slidell Water Supply | Slidell, LA | 2 of 12 | 2.10 ppb | 38,612 |
| Harris County FWSD 61* | Houston, TX | 1 of 12 | 1.25 ppb | 17,586 |
| McAlester PWA* | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 2 | 1.21 ppb | 17,783 |
| City of Universal City | Universal City, TX | 3 of 7 | 1.18 ppb | 19,986 |
| Geneseo Village* | Geneseo, NY | 2 of 3 | 1.17 ppb | 13,350 |
| Barbourville Water & Electric* | Barbourville, KY | 2 of 2 | 1.000 ppb | 16,420 |
| Wellborn SUD | Wellborn, TX | 1 of 15 | 1.000 ppb | 19,068 |
| City of Deer Park* | Deer Park, TX | 1 of 9 | 0.833 ppb | 32,964 |
| Pa-american Water-brownsville* | Elrama, PA | 1 of 3 | 0.833 ppb | 11,890 |
| Utilities Inc. - North Park Water Supply | Covington, LA | 8 of 12 | 0.810 ppb | 11,022 |
| City of Hewitt | Hewitt, TX | 5 of 12 | 0.787 ppb | 16,638 |
| Denton County FWSD 7 Lantana | Houston, TX | 3 of 11 | 0.782 ppb | 10,518 |
| City of Corinth | Corinth, TX | 3 of 11 | 0.782 ppb | 23,568 |
| Tri County Joint Municipal Authority* | Fredericktown, PA | 1 of 4 | 0.770 ppb | 10,100 |
| City of Cumberland* | Cumberland, MD | 1 of 6 | 0.763 ppb | 27,039 |
| City of Longmont* | Longmont, CO | 1 of 2 | 0.750 ppb | 87,850 |
| City of Anacortes* | Mount Vernon, WA | 1 of 1 | 0.720 ppb | 15,734 |
| Portsmouth Water & Fire District | Portsmouth, RI | 25 of 55 | 0.709 ppb | 16,864 |
| City of Newport* | Newport, RI | 25 of 55 | 0.709 ppb | 42,000 |
| SCLIWC* | Ithaca, NY | 2 of 3 | 0.640 ppb | 23,395 |
| City of Defuniak Springs | Defuniak Springs, FL | 1 of 8 | 0.613 ppb | 17,094 |
| Eunice Water System (LAWCO) | Baton Rouge, LA | 2 of 4 | 0.600 ppb | 15,753 |
| City of Ammon | Ammon, ID | 4 of 12 | 0.538 ppb | 14,019 |
| City of Houston Utility District 5 - Kingwood* | Houston, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.538 ppb | 82,002 |
| Lumberton MUD | Lumberton, TX | 1 of 8 | 0.513 ppb | 23,514 |
| St John Water District 3 | Laplace, LA | 4 of 4 | 0.505 ppb | 29,872 |
| Arvin Community Services District | Arvin, CA | 1 of 7 | 0.486 ppb | 19,000 |
| Sussex Village Hall & Water Utility | Sussex, WI | 1 of 2 | 0.485 ppb | 10,573 |
| Port St. Lucie Utilities | Port St Lucie, FL | 1 of 6 | 0.483 ppb | 157,943 |
| East Rio Hondo WSC* | Rio Hondo, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.467 ppb | 21,726 |
| Brookfield Water Utility | Brookfield, WI | 1 of 3 | 0.467 ppb | 29,070 |
| City of Waynesboro | Waynesboro, VA | 1 of 2 | 0.450 ppb | 21,006 |
| Riverhead WD* | Riverhead, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.450 ppb | 35,000 |
| Beauregard Water Works District #3 | Longville, LA | 6 of 26 | 0.444 ppb | 21,600 |
| Central Sumter Utility | The Villages, FL | 1 of 7 | 0.403 ppb | 19,699 |
| Camino Real Regional Utility Authority | Sunland Park, NM | 2 of 11 | 0.393 ppb | 20,881 |
| Lincoln-pipestone Rural Water System* | Lake Benton, MN | 2 of 6 | 0.383 ppb | 12,271 |
| Crowley Water System (LAWCO) | Baton Rouge, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.383 ppb | 19,000 |
| Henderson Municipal Water & Sewer* | Henderson, KY | 1 of 10 | 0.380 ppb | 31,705 |
| City of St. Cloud* | St Cloud, FL | 1 of 14 | 0.379 ppb | 50,454 |
| City of Arcadia | Arcadia, CA | 1 of 18 | 0.367 ppb | 57,639 |
| West Travis County Regional WS* | Bee Cave, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.367 ppb | 21,600 |
| Bolivar Peninsula SUD | Crystal Beach, TX | 1 of 5 | 0.360 ppb | 17,328 |
| Coastside County Water District | Half Moon Bay, CA | 1 of 9 | 0.356 ppb | 18,871 |
| West Cedar Creek MUD | Tool, TX | 2 of 6 | 0.333 ppb | 18,168 |
| City of Conroe* | Conroe, TX | 1 of 21 | 0.333 ppb | 71,592 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.