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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Reynolds Plantation

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.

 

25

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
2016ND120ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND90ND
2019N/A00N/A

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
2016-02-09AJ06237ND
2016-02-09AJ06235ND
2016-02-09AJ06233ND
2016-05-17AJ12533ND
2016-05-17AJ12528ND
2016-05-17AJ12515ND
2016-07-12AJ17556ND
2016-07-12AJ17554ND
2016-07-12AJ17537ND
2016-10-04AJ30623ND
2016-10-04AJ30611ND
2016-10-04AJ30609ND
2017-01-10AJ37957ND
2017-04-04AJ52718ND
2017-07-11AJ59990ND
2017-10-10AJ71120ND
2018-01-09AJ76515ND
2018-01-09AJ76512ND
2018-01-09AJ76508ND
2018-05-21AJ90136ND
2018-05-21AJ90134ND
2018-07-16AJ94706ND
2018-07-16AJ94690ND
2018-10-15AK04243ND
2018-10-15AK04251ND