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.
2015-2017:
26
states detected
246
utilities detected
14 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
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
States reporting 2,4-D in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Pennsylvania | 10 | 2,476,007 | |
| Nevada | 5 | 1,677,806 | |
| Colorado | 40 | 1,618,389 | |
| Arizona | 4 | 1,585,011 | |
| Indiana | 18 | 1,378,354 | |
| Missouri | 13 | 1,267,951 | |
| Tennessee | 13 | 1,093,128 | |
| Florida | 25 | 817,000 | |
| Kentucky | 15 | 507,398 | |
| Minnesota | 6 | 500,849 | |
| Oregon | 4 | 204,794 | |
| Texas | 18 | 155,499 | |
| Louisiana | 11 | 154,637 | |
| New York | 20 | 122,449 | |
| Illinois | 25 | 67,260 | |
| Georgia | 2 | 58,903 | |
| South Carolina | 3 | 57,361 | |
| Delaware | 2 | 37,188 | |
| Alabama | 2 | 31,112 | |
| North Carolina | 2 | 6,678 | |
| West Virginia | 2 | 2,175 | |
| North Dakota | 2 | 1,976 | |
| Idaho | 1 | 94 | |
| Nebraska | 1 | 85 | |
| Washington | 1 | 85 | |
| Wyoming | 1 | 80 | |
Filtering technologies that reduce 2,4-D
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of 2,4-D, 2015-2017
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Creek, Village of | Elk Creek, NE | 1 of 1 | 3.13 ppb | 85 |
| Live Oak WTP | Live Oak, FL | 1 of 4 | 1.94 ppb | 12,340 |
| Frostproof, City of | Frostproof, FL | 2 of 6 | 0.500 ppb | 3,550 |
| Hoyleton-new Minden* | Hoyleton, IL | 1 of 6 | 0.483 ppb | 48 |
| Nashville* | Nashville, IL | 1 of 6 | 0.483 ppb | 3,320 |
| Breezy Hill WD | Graniteville, SC | 3 of 21 | 0.453 ppb | 13,692 |
| Coulterville | Coulterville, IL | 1 of 6 | 0.450 ppb | 1,300 |
| North Castle Water District #4* | Armonk, NY | 1 of 7 | 0.431 ppb | 2,525 |
| North Castle Water District #7 | Armonk, NY | 1 of 7 | 0.431 ppb | 100 |
| North Castle Water District #5 | Armonk, NY | 1 of 7 | 0.431 ppb | 225 |
| Taylor Coastal Water & Sewer District | Perry, FL | 1 of 6 | 0.332 ppb | 1,231 |
| Beardsley Water Company 1 | Phoenix, AZ | 2 of 2 | 0.320 ppb | 461 |
| Peak View Ranch | Apache Junction, AZ | 1 of 1 | 0.320 ppb | 232 |
| Hyde Park / D.c.w.w.a. Plant* | Poughkeepsie, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.280 ppb | 9,636 |
| Harbourd Hills / Zone D | Poughkeepsie, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.280 ppb | 1,544 |
| Turtle Rock Village | Dundee, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.280 ppb | 48 |
| Staatsburg Water System | Poughkeepsie, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.280 ppb | 1,164 |
| Water Unlimited, Incorporated* | Newcastle, WY | 1 of 4 | 0.275 ppb | 80 |
| Carpendale, Town Of | Ridgeley, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.271 ppb | 908 |
| Lafourche Water District 1 | Lockport, LA | 6 of 24 | 0.264 ppb | 78,760 |
| Holbrook, City of | Holbrook, AZ | 1 of 8 | 0.263 ppb | 5,318 |
| Niota Water System | Niota, TN | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 3,295 |
| Hiwassee Utility Commission* | Charleston, TN | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 98 |
| City of George West | George West, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 2,400 |
| Calhoun-charleston Utility Dis | Calhoun, TN | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 2,713 |
| Toledo Village Water Supply Corporation | Jasper, TX | 2 of 5 | 0.240 ppb | 1,610 |
| Guilford Water District | Guilford, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.215 ppb | 350 |
| Arden Hills | Arden Hills, MN | 2 of 3 | 0.200 ppb | 9,652 |
| Little Canada | Little Canada, MN | 2 of 3 | 0.200 ppb | 9,773 |
| Kaskaskia Water District* | New Athens, IL | 1 of 7 | 0.200 ppb | 1 |
| Mountain Lake | Mountain Lake, MN | 1 of 1 | 0.200 ppb | 2,100 |
| Tilden | Tilden, IL | 1 of 7 | 0.200 ppb | 1,200 |
| Saint Paul Regional Water Services* | St. Paul, MN | 2 of 3 | 0.200 ppb | 422,660 |
| New Athens | New Athens, IL | 1 of 7 | 0.200 ppb | 2,200 |
| Marissa | Marissa, IL | 1 of 7 | 0.200 ppb | 2,200 |
| Roseville | Roseville, MN | 2 of 3 | 0.200 ppb | 33,690 |
| Sparta* | Sparta, IL | 1 of 5 | 0.200 ppb | 4,853 |
| Lenzburg | Lenzburg, IL | 1 of 7 | 0.200 ppb | 615 |
| Glens Falls City | Glens Falls, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.190 ppb | 14,000 |
| Salem* | Salem, IL | 1 of 8 | 0.188 ppb | 9,000 |
| Pinewood Springs Water District | Lyons, CO | 1 of 8 | 0.188 ppb | 950 |
| Cleveland Utilities* | Cleveland, TN | 1 of 3 | 0.167 ppb | 81,325 |
| Okaloosa County - Mid System (crestview)* | Ft. Walton Beach, FL | 1 of 3 | 0.160 ppb | 9,608 |
| Cullman Utilities Board* | Cullman, AL | 1 of 2 | 0.150 ppb | 32 |
| City of Cullman Water Works* | Cullman, AL | 1 of 2 | 0.150 ppb | 31,080 |
| East Lawrence Water Authority | Bedford, IN | 1 of 2 | 0.150 ppb | 8,000 |
| Bedford City Utilities* | Bedford, IN | 1 of 2 | 0.150 ppb | 14,000 |
| Montgomery County Municipal Utility District 9* | Houston, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.150 ppb | 6,204 |
| Jonesboro Water System | Jonesboro, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.150 ppb | 6,876 |
| Central | Winter Haven, FL | 1 of 10 | 0.150 ppb | 13,595 |
* 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak WTP | Live Oak, FL | 1 of 4 | 1.94 ppb | 12,340 |
| Breezy Hill WD | Graniteville, SC | 3 of 21 | 0.453 ppb | 13,692 |
| Lafourche Water District 1 | Lockport, LA | 6 of 24 | 0.264 ppb | 78,760 |
| Roseville | Roseville, MN | 2 of 3 | 0.200 ppb | 33,690 |
| Saint Paul Regional Water Services* | St. Paul, MN | 2 of 3 | 0.200 ppb | 422,660 |
| Glens Falls City | Glens Falls, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.190 ppb | 14,000 |
| Cleveland Utilities* | Cleveland, TN | 1 of 3 | 0.167 ppb | 81,325 |
| City of Cullman Water Works* | Cullman, AL | 1 of 2 | 0.150 ppb | 31,080 |
| Central | Winter Haven, FL | 1 of 10 | 0.150 ppb | 13,595 |
| Bedford City Utilities* | Bedford, IN | 1 of 2 | 0.150 ppb | 14,000 |
| City of Port St. Joe | Port St. Joe, FL | 2 of 4 | 0.120 ppb | 12,806 |
| Indiana American Water - Muncie | Greenwood, IN | 2 of 2 | 0.1000 ppb | 65,708 |
| Aqua Pennsylvania Main System* | Bryn Mawr, PA | 1 of 15 | 0.1000 ppb | 747,460 |
| Portland Water System | Portland, TN | 1 of 3 | 0.1000 ppb | 20,845 |
| Philadelphia Water Department* | Philadelphia, PA | 2 of 14 | 0.0929 ppb | 1,600,000 |
| Elk River | Elk River, MN | 1 of 3 | 0.0833 ppb | 22,974 |
| Neosho | Neosho, MO | 1 of 3 | 0.0833 ppb | 12,157 |
| Thibodaux Waterworks | Thibodaux, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.0750 ppb | 15,810 |
| Kentucky-American Water Company* | Lexington, KY | 2 of 8 | 0.0750 ppb | 356,400 |
| Evansville Water Utility* | Evansville, IN | 4 of 12 | 0.0667 ppb | 173,000 |
| German Township Water District Inc.* | Evansville, IN | 4 of 12 | 0.0667 ppb | 12,058 |
| Fort Wayne - 3 Rivers Filtration Plant* | Fort Wayne, IN | 3 of 13 | 0.0615 ppb | 250,000 |
| New Haven Water Department | New Haven, IN | 3 of 13 | 0.0615 ppb | 15,700 |
| Citizens Water - Indianapolis* | Indianapolis, IN | 8 of 39 | 0.0615 ppb | 814,338 |
| Winchester Water System | Winchester, TN | 1 of 5 | 0.0600 ppb | 21,176 |
| Tennessee American Water* | Chattanooga, TN | 1 of 5 | 0.0600 ppb | 186,625 |
| Lee County Utilities* | Fort Myers, FL | 4 of 11 | 0.0566 ppb | 236,944 |
| Hardin County Water District #2 | Elizabethtown, KY | 1 of 5 | 0.0400 ppb | 76,326 |
| Mt Werner WD* | Steamboat Springs, CO | 1 of 4 | 0.0350 ppb | 16,980 |
| Nashville Water Department #1* | Nashville, TN | 1 of 2 | 0.0335 ppb | 702,407 |
| Peekskill City* | Peekskill, NY | 1 of 3 | 0.0290 ppb | 52,969 |
| Toho Water Authority - Poinciana System | Kissimmee, FL | 1 of 3 | 0.0270 ppb | 69,447 |
| City of Evans | Evans, CO | 1 of 10 | 0.0220 ppb | 19,369 |
| City of Greeley* | Greeley, CO | 1 of 10 | 0.0220 ppb | 91,109 |
| Houma Water Treatment Service Area | Houma, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.0217 ppb | 31,560 |
| Salem Public Works* | Salem, OR | 2 of 13 | 0.0177 ppb | 189,000 |
| Suburban East Salem WD | Salem, OR | 2 of 13 | 0.0177 ppb | 13,450 |
| Missouri American Jefferson City District | Jefferson City, MO | 1 of 6 | 0.0167 ppb | 27,117 |
| City of Pasadena* | Pasadena, TX | 1 of 12 | 0.0167 ppb | 110,058 |
| Jefferson County Cons. PWSD C 1* | Barnhart, MO | 2 of 35 | 0.0143 ppb | 35,000 |
| Jefferson County PWSD 3* | Arnold, MO | 2 of 35 | 0.0143 ppb | 17,000 |
| Jefferson County PWSD 10 | Imperial, MO | 2 of 35 | 0.0143 ppb | 10,000 |
| Jefferson County PWSD1* | Arnold, MO | 2 of 35 | 0.0143 ppb | 20,000 |
| Missouri American St. Louis County & St. Charles County* | Chesterfield, MO | 2 of 35 | 0.0143 ppb | 1,100,000 |
| Kirkwood | Kirkwood, MO | 2 of 35 | 0.0143 ppb | 28,000 |
| City of Cape Coral* | Cape Coral, FL | 1 of 6 | 0.0135 ppb | 132,737 |
| Murphysboro* | Murphysboro, IL | 1 of 8 | 0.0125 ppb | 11,915 |
| Consolidated Mutual No2 | Lakewood, CO | 1 of 12 | 0.00833 ppb | 58,638 |
| Green Mountain WSD | Lakewood, CO | 1 of 12 | 0.00833 ppb | 25,000 |
| Lakehurst WSD | Littleton, CO | 1 of 12 | 0.00833 ppb | 13,300 |
* 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.