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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Ozark Utilities Board

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.

 

32

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
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND160ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND160ND

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
2016-02-18AB10061ND
2016-02-18AB10071ND
2016-02-18AB10063ND
2016-02-18AB10067ND
2016-06-13AB12393ND
2016-06-13AB12394ND
2016-06-13AB12395ND
2016-06-13AB12396ND
2016-08-03AB14010ND
2016-08-03AB14009ND
2016-08-03AB14008ND
2016-08-03AB14011ND
2016-12-27AB17041ND
2016-12-27AB17039ND
2016-12-27AB17042ND
2016-12-27AB17040ND
2019-02-07AB32884ND
2019-02-07AB32885ND
2019-02-07AB32887ND
2019-02-07AB32886ND
2019-06-19AB36110ND
2019-06-19AB36109ND
2019-06-19AB36108ND
2019-06-19AB36107ND
2019-08-27AB37950ND
2019-08-27AB37951ND
2019-08-27AB37952ND
2019-08-27AB37953ND
2019-11-21AB40298ND
2019-11-21AB40299ND
2019-11-21AB40297ND
2019-11-21AB40300ND