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.
2017-2019:
43
states detected
1,419
utilities detected
23 million
people served
16
states over health guideline
47
utilities over health guideline
129,000
people served over health guideline
5
states over legal limit
6
utilities over legal limit
9,703
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 | 15 | 31,186 | 399 | 9,018,680 | |||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 53 | 1,911,178 | |||
| Arizona | 2 | 292 | 64 | 1,742,507 | |||
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1,541,332 | |||
| New York | 0 | 0 | 67 | 1,370,177 | |||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1,125,887 | |||
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1,366 | 28 | 972,816 | |||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 54 | 913,065 | |||
| Louisiana | 1 | 196 | 77 | 894,792 | |||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 4 | 722,248 | |||
| Iowa | 5 | 67,324 | 129 | 292,277 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 1,051 | 49 | 286,625 | |||
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 18 | 261,150 | |||
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 23 | 260,581 | |||
| Delaware | 1 | 345 | 46 | 224,571 | |||
| California | 0 | 0 | 7 | 215,263 | |||
| Connecticut | 2 | 92 | 25 | 165,052 | |||
| New Mexico | 1 | 325 | 18 | 161,585 | |||
| Wisconsin | 8 | 16,760 | 68 | 125,327 | |||
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 20 | 120,553 | |||
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | 25 | 90,623 | |||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 13 | 82,658 | |||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 11 | 66,448 | |||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 4 | 62,593 | |||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 25 | 52,774 | |||
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 8 | 50,966 | |||
| Utah | 1 | 8,500 | 6 | 33,594 | |||
| Idaho | 3 | 275 | 22 | 30,876 | |||
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 11 | 30,240 | |||
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 7 | 22,645 | |||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | 5 | 18,195 | |||
| Washington | 2 | 168 | 17 | 16,911 | |||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 12 | 16,819 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 4 | 15,504 | |||
| Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 11 | 14,327 | |||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13,876 | |||
| Montana | 1 | 650 | 18 | 13,408 | |||
| Maryland | 1 | 100 | 8 | 11,964 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5,701 | |||
| New Hampshire | 1 | 180 | 11 | 3,818 | |||
| South Dakota | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2,067 | |||
| Wyoming | 0 | 0 | 1 | 470 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 2 | 169 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodhaven Mobile Home Park | Pflugerville, TX | 1 of 3 | 9.33 ppb | 96 |
| Roelen Evergreen Park Llc | Moscow, ID | 3 of 5 | 6.12 ppb | 65 |
| Tylerton Waterwork Cooperative | Tylerton, MD | 1 of 1 | 5.83 ppb | 100 |
| Upper Holman Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association | Holman, NM | 1 of 2 | 5.60 ppb | 325 |
| Floyd Municipal Water Supply | Floyd, IA | 10 of 12 | 5.03 ppb | 335 |
| River Valley Apts - South | Ixonia, WI | 1 of 1 | 4.70 ppb | 48 |
| Chaparral Water Association | Eagle, ID | 1 of 1 | 4.68 ppb | 100 |
| Claire Street Water System | Vidor, TX | 1 of 3 | 4.33 ppb | 67 |
| Hop River Homes | Cromwell, CT | 21 of 25 | 4.28 ppb | 26 |
| St. Labre Indian School | Ashland, MT | 2 of 3 | 4.27 ppb | 650 |
| West Gate Estates Mobile Hms | Marathon, WI | 1 of 1 | 4.20 ppb | 50 |
| Pioneer Acres | Moreland, ID | 1 of 2 | 4.16 ppb | 110 |
| Lancaster Water Company | Lancaster, CA | 2 of 2 | 4.15 ppb | 66 |
| Malvern Water Supply | Omaha, IA | 1 of 1 | 4.00 ppb | 1,142 |
| Lloyd-butler Mutual Water Company | Oxnard, CA | 1 of 1 | 4.00 ppb | 25 |
| Green Lake Mobile Home Park | Green Lake, WI | 7 of 9 | 3.78 ppb | 70 |
| Tesi Cote Gelee | Baton Rouge, LA | 4 of 16 | 3.69 ppb | 196 |
| Mount Hope Waterworks | Mount Hope, WI | 9 of 10 | 3.68 ppb | 181 |
| Johnson Creek Water Users Association | Tonasket, WA | 3 of 3 | 3.62 ppb | 48 |
| Springsteel Island Supply | Warroad, MN | 4 of 6 | 3.57 ppb | 80 |
| Delafield Lakes 402 | Delafield, WI | 1 of 1 | 3.50 ppb | 50 |
| Long Neck Village | Millsboro, DE | 1 of 4 | 3.50 ppb | 345 |
| Waukomis Public Works Authority | Waukomis, OK | 1 of 1 | 3.35 ppb | 1,366 |
| Waverly Town Of | Waverly, WA | 1 of 2 | 3.32 ppb | 120 |
| Heaven City | Mukwonago, WI | 1 of 1 | 3.30 ppb | 46 |
| Antrim Township Municipal Authority | Greencastle, PA | 1 of 7 | 3.24 ppb | 975 |
| Star Vale Leisure Living | Star Valley, AZ | 5 of 7 | 3.22 ppb | 200 |
| Katherine Resorts Landing | La Mesa, AZ | 2 of 3 | 3.20 ppb | 58 |
| Tainter Woods Condominiums | Colfax, WI | 17 of 18 | 3.19 ppb | 85 |
| Harris County Water Control and Improvement District 50 El Lago | El Lago, TX | 1 of 9 | 3.00 ppb | 2,774 |
| Annas House | New Franken, WI | 2 of 2 | 3.00 ppb | 32 |
| Richmond Estates | Shawano, WI | 1 of 1 | 3.00 ppb | 150 |
| Halcyon Acres Water Users Association 1 | Tucson, AZ | 10 of 17 | 2.97 ppb | 234 |
| City of Baker Water System | Baker, LA | 8 of 20 | 2.88 ppb | 13,855 |
| Sun Ranch Water System | Thompsons, TX | 1 of 2 | 2.85 ppb | 111 |
| Falls City Mobile Home Park 1 | Fall Creek, WI | 1 of 6 | 2.83 ppb | 100 |
| Cade Apartments | New Castle, IN | 2 of 3 | 2.77 ppb | 50 |
| Comanche County Rural Water District #2 | Elgin, OK | 1 of 2 | 2.75 ppb | 1,840 |
| Coyleville Mobile Court | Fenelton, PA | 1 of 5 | 2.72 ppb | 76 |
| Livonia Water System | Livonia, LA | 6 of 16 | 2.71 ppb | 2,445 |
| Cardinal Valley Estates 3rd Addition | Le Claire, IA | 16 of 21 | 2.66 ppb | 25 |
| Sandy Beach Subdivision | Austin, TX | 1 of 2 | 2.65 ppb | 402 |
| Lake Forest Water Coop | Madison, WI | 2 of 2 | 2.62 ppb | 400 |
| Timber Creek Estates | Conroe, TX | 1 of 2 | 2.60 ppb | 54 |
| Greenleaf Waterworks | Greenleaf, WI | 1 of 1 | 2.60 ppb | 650 |
| Slatersville Public Supply | Slatersville, RI | 2 of 2 | 2.55 ppb | 3,224 |
| White Pines South | Castleton, NY | 6 of 15 | 2.55 ppb | 25 |
| Slope N Shore Club | New London, NH | 9 of 11 | 2.55 ppb | 180 |
| Malden | Malden, IL | 1 of 1 | 2.50 ppb | 348 |
| Rio Manor Mutual Water Company | Oxnard, CA | 1 of 2 | 2.50 ppb | 900 |
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Baker Water System | Baker, LA | 8 of 20 | 2.88 ppb | 13,855 |
| Central IA Water Assn (Waverly)* | Newton, IA | 2 of 2 | 2.32 ppb | 34,245 |
| Beaver Dam Water Utility | Beaver Dam, WI | 2 of 2 | 2.06 ppb | 16,200 |
| Slidell Water Supply | Slidell, LA | 2 of 16 | 1.58 ppb | 38,612 |
| Dona Ana MDWCA | Dona Ana, NM | 4 of 22 | 1.55 ppb | 16,217 |
| Council Bluffs Water Works* | Council Bluffs, IA | 1 of 3 | 1.30 ppb | 63,795 |
| Berea City PWS | Berea, OH | 1 of 3 | 1.27 ppb | 17,900 |
| Brattleboro Water Department* | Brattleboro, VT | 1 of 9 | 1.23 ppb | 12,200 |
| McAlester PWA* | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 2 | 1.21 ppb | 18,206 |
| City of Rialto | Rialto, CA | 1 of 12 | 0.917 ppb | 48,623 |
| Poweshiek Water Association* | Tama, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.880 ppb | 18,836 |
| City of Levelland | Levelland, TX | 1 of 6 | 0.867 ppb | 14,278 |
| Indiana American Water - West Lafayette* | Greenwood, IN | 2 of 9 | 0.867 ppb | 31,748 |
| Sussex Village Hall & Water Utility | Sussex, WI | 5 of 7 | 0.863 ppb | 10,573 |
| City of Temple* | Temple, TX | 1 of 9 | 0.856 ppb | 85,884 |
| Calcasieu Parish WW District No 1 | Lake Charles, LA | 8 of 18 | 0.784 ppb | 20,837 |
| Camino Real Regional Utility Authority | Sunland Park, NM | 6 of 22 | 0.767 ppb | 17,016 |
| Holyoke Water Works | Holyoke, MA | 1 of 7 | 0.751 ppb | 40,124 |
| City of Universal City | Universal City, TX | 3 of 11 | 0.748 ppb | 19,986 |
| Del City | Del City, OK | 6 of 56 | 0.713 ppb | 22,128 |
| City of Newport* | Newport, RI | 50 of 116 | 0.664 ppb | 42,000 |
| Portsmouth Water & Fire District | Portsmouth, RI | 50 of 116 | 0.664 ppb | 16,864 |
| US Air Force Academy | Usaf Academy, CO | 7 of 45 | 0.627 ppb | 16,876 |
| Fort Carson Army Base | Fort Carson, CO | 7 of 45 | 0.627 ppb | 42,000 |
| Colorado Springs Utilities* | Colorado Springs, CO | 7 of 45 | 0.627 ppb | 450,461 |
| Brookfield Water Utility | Brookfield, WI | 2 of 6 | 0.617 ppb | 29,070 |
| City of Deer Park | Deer Park, TX | 2 of 14 | 0.595 ppb | 32,964 |
| Geneseo Village* | Geneseo, NY | 2 of 6 | 0.583 ppb | 13,350 |
| Harris County FWSD 61* | Houston, TX | 1 of 26 | 0.577 ppb | 17,586 |
| City of Hewitt | Hewitt, TX | 7 of 22 | 0.575 ppb | 16,417 |
| Summit Township Water Authority | Erie, PA | 2 of 21 | 0.531 ppb | 12,226 |
| Porter SUD* | Porter, TX | 1 of 21 | 0.524 ppb | 15,892 |
| Oxnard Water Department* | Oxnard, CA | 1 of 17 | 0.518 ppb | 200,855 |
| Barbourville Water & Electric* | Barbourville, KY | 2 of 4 | 0.500 ppb | 16,420 |
| Arvin Community Services District | Arvin, CA | 1 of 7 | 0.486 ppb | 19,000 |
| Wellborn SUD | Wellborn, TX | 1 of 31 | 0.484 ppb | 25,677 |
| Goforth SUD | Niederwald, TX | 1 of 4 | 0.475 ppb | 27,639 |
| City of Ammon | Ammon, ID | 4 of 14 | 0.461 ppb | 14,019 |
| Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District | Liberty Lake, WA | 1 of 3 | 0.457 ppb | 10,645 |
| City of Waynesboro | Waynesboro, VA | 1 of 2 | 0.450 ppb | 21,006 |
| Ada* | Ada, OK | 1 of 6 | 0.433 ppb | 22,600 |
| Riverhead WD* | Riverhead, NY | 2 of 2 | 0.425 ppb | 35,000 |
| Utilities Inc. - North Park Water Supply | Mandeville, LA | 10 of 26 | 0.416 ppb | 11,298 |
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 3 of 18 | 0.407 ppb | 127,700 |
| City of Corinth | Corinth, TX | 3 of 22 | 0.391 ppb | 23,568 |
| City of Celina | Celina, TX | 3 of 22 | 0.391 ppb | 18,860 |
| Denton County FWSD 7 Lantana | Houston, TX | 3 of 22 | 0.391 ppb | 11,169 |
| City of Alvin* | Alvin, TX | 1 of 8 | 0.388 ppb | 24,000 |
| SCLIWC* | Ithaca, NY | 2 of 5 | 0.384 ppb | 23,395 |
| City of Cumberland* | Cumberland, MD | 1 of 12 | 0.382 ppb | 27,039 |
* 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.