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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

North Lenoir Water Corp

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.

 

51

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND120ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND100ND
2019ND30ND

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
2014-02-108540-021014-E4ASND
2014-05-068540-050614-E08SND
2014-05-068540-050614-E11SND
2014-05-068540-050614-E09SND
2014-05-128540-051214-E02SND
2014-05-128540-051214-E10SND
2014-06-058540-060514-E4ASND
2014-08-068540-080614-E09SND
2014-08-068540-080614-E10SND
2014-08-068540-080614-E11SND
2014-08-078540-080714-E02SND
2014-08-078540-080714-E08SND
2015-01-30ND
2015-01-30ND
2015-01-30ND
2015-04-07ND
2015-04-07ND
2015-04-07ND
2015-07-13ND
2015-07-13ND
2015-07-13ND
2015-10-07ND
2015-10-07ND
2015-10-07ND
2016-08-098540-080916-E18SND
2016-11-078540-110716-E18SND
2017-02-068540-020617-E4ASND
2017-05-088540-050817-E08SND
2017-05-088540-050817-E15SND
2017-05-088540-050817-E02SND
2017-05-108540-051017-E09SND
2017-05-108540-051017-E11SND
2017-06-128540-061217-E4ASND
2017-08-148540-081417-E02SND
2017-08-148540-081417-E08SND
2017-08-148540-081417-E09SND
2017-08-148540-081417-E11SND
2017-08-148540-081417-E15SND
2018-01-118540-011118-E17SND
2018-01-118540-011118-E16SND
2018-04-098540-040918-E16SND
2018-04-098540-040918-E17SND
2018-07-098540-070918-E12SND
2018-07-098540-070918-E13SND
2018-07-168540-071618-E14SND
2018-10-028540-100218-E12SND
2018-10-028540-100218-E13SND
2018-10-028540-100218-E14SND
2019-04-088540-040819-E02SND
2019-08-078540-080719-E18SND
2019-11-048540-110419-E18SND