2,4-D
Status: National drinking water standard exists
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.
2015:
14
states detected
92
utilities detected
4.4 million
people served
0
states over health guideline
0
utilities over health guideline
0
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for 2,4-D
Hormone disruption
Harm to the liver
Harm to the kidney
Harm to the thyroid
Harm to the brain and nervous system
Change to immune system function
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 20 ppb
The 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.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 70 ppb
The enforceable federal standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level Goal (MCLG)70.0 ppb
A non-enforceable federal health guideline. For cancer-causing chemicals, these health goals are typically set to zero.
ppb = parts per billion.
States reporting 2,4-D in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Indiana | 16 | 1,352,694 | |
| Missouri | 9 | 1,262,117 | |
| Tennessee | 6 | 756,575 | |
| Nevada | 2 | 328,932 | |
| Colorado | 6 | 212,603 | |
| Florida | 6 | 140,554 | |
| Kentucky | 4 | 121,963 | |
| Louisiana | 7 | 95,650 | |
| New York | 3 | 83,538 | |
| Illinois | 17 | 41,207 | |
| Texas | 13 | 37,452 | |
| North Carolina | 1 | 168 | |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 150 | |
| Idaho | 1 | 94 | |
Utilities with the highest amounts of 2,4-D, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaskaskia Water District* | New Athens, IL | 1 of 2 | 0.700 ppb | 1 |
| Taylor Coastal Water & Sewer District | Perry, FL | 1 of 4 | 0.498 ppb | 1,231 |
| Okaloosa County - Mid System (crestview)* | Ft. Walton Beach, FL | 1 of 1 | 0.480 ppb | 9,608 |
| Elder Springs Mobile Home Park | Sanford, FL | 1 of 1 | 0.472 ppb | 62 |
| Montgomery County Municipal Utility District 9* | Montgomery, TX | 1 of 1 | 0.300 ppb | 6,204 |
| Toledo Village Water Supply Corporation | Jasper, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.300 ppb | 1,531 |
| Northwest Freeway Municipal Utility District | Houston, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 3,558 |
| Hardin County Water District #2* | Elizabethtown, KY | 1 of 1 | 0.200 ppb | 76,326 |
| City of Marlin | Marlin, TX | 1 of 1 | 0.200 ppb | 5,967 |
| Clear Creek Forest Section 12 | Austin, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.200 ppb | 1,611 |
| Lafourche Water District 1 | Lockport, LA | 2 of 8 | 0.183 ppb | 78,760 |
| Jonesboro Water System | Jonesboro, LA | 2 of 10 | 0.180 ppb | 6,876 |
| Carlin Bay Property Owners Association | Harrison, ID | 1 of 2 | 0.139 ppb | 94 |
| Tiffany Pines | Montrose, PA | 1 of 4 | 0.108 ppb | 150 |
| Coolcrest Water System | Pflugerville, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.1000 ppb | 909 |
| Cedar Oak Mesa Water Supply Corporation | Wimberley, TX | 1 of 1 | 0.1000 ppb | 609 |
| Indiana American Water - Muncie | Greenwood, IN | 2 of 2 | 0.1000 ppb | 67,205 |
| Peekskill City* | Peekskill, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.0870 ppb | 52,969 |
| Durham Park Water Supply Corporation | Liberty Hill, TX | 2 of 5 | 0.0800 ppb | 1,075 |
| Tensas Water District Association* | St Joseph, LA | 2 of 4 | 0.0750 ppb | 3,822 |
| Bayview Municipal Utility District* | Bacliff, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.0667 ppb | 1,830 |
| Linden Water Department | Linden, TN | 1 of 3 | 0.0667 ppb | 6,610 |
| Fort Wayne - 3 Rivers Filtration Plant* | Fort Wayne, IN | 1 of 5 | 0.0600 ppb | 250,000 |
| City of Greeley* | Greeley, CO | 1 of 4 | 0.0550 ppb | 91,109 |
| Spring Valley Mobile Home S/d | Concord, NC | 1 of 4 | 0.0525 ppb | 168 |
| Green Rich Shores and Sterling Island Su | New Waverly, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.0500 ppb | 275 |
| Evansville Water Utility* | Evansville, IN | 1 of 4 | 0.0500 ppb | 162,000 |
| Seneca Water Supply Corporation | Woodville, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.0500 ppb | 773 |
| Newellton Water System | Newellton, LA | 2 of 4 | 0.0495 ppb | 1,596 |
| Oil City Water Works | Oil City, LA | 2 of 4 | 0.0425 ppb | 2,115 |
* 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 2,4-D, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County Water District #2* | Elizabethtown, KY | 1 of 1 | 0.200 ppb | 76,326 |
| Lafourche Water District 1 | Lockport, LA | 2 of 8 | 0.183 ppb | 78,760 |
| Indiana American Water - Muncie | Greenwood, IN | 2 of 2 | 0.1000 ppb | 67,205 |
| Peekskill City* | Peekskill, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.0870 ppb | 52,969 |
| Fort Wayne - 3 Rivers Filtration Plant* | Fort Wayne, IN | 1 of 5 | 0.0600 ppb | 250,000 |
| City of Greeley* | Greeley, CO | 1 of 4 | 0.0550 ppb | 91,109 |
| Evansville Water Utility* | Evansville, IN | 1 of 4 | 0.0500 ppb | 162,000 |
| Nashville Water Department #1* | Nashville, TN | 1 of 2 | 0.0335 ppb | 637,216 |
| Citizens Water - Indianapolis* | Indianapolis, IN | 1 of 22 | 0.0273 ppb | 809,778 |
| Missouri American Jefferson City District* | Jefferson City, MO | 1 of 4 | 0.0250 ppb | 27,117 |
| Missouri American St. Louis County & St. Charles County* | Chesterfield, MO | 2 of 20 | 0.0250 ppb | 1,100,000 |
| Truckee Meadows Water Authority* | Reno, NV | 2 of 19 | 0.0147 ppb | 311,932 |
* 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 2,4-D, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.