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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Plainview Municipal Water System

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.

 

23

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND100ND
2015ND10ND
2016ND10ND
2017ND90ND
2018ND10ND
2019ND10ND

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
2014-01-14Q1400667033ND
2014-01-14Q1400667028ND
2014-01-14Q1400667027ND
2014-01-14Q1400667026ND
2014-01-14Q1400667025ND
2014-01-15Q1400995038ND
2014-01-15Q1400995011ND
2014-01-15Q1400995026ND
2014-01-15Q1400995025ND
2014-01-15Q1400995024ND
2015-01-21Q1501905007ND
2016-01-19Q1602114004ND
2017-02-07Q1705153028ND
2017-02-07Q1705153027ND
2017-02-07Q1705153026ND
2017-08-30Q1740337043ND
2017-08-30Q1740337011ND
2017-08-30Q1740337042ND
2017-08-30Q1740337010ND
2017-08-30Q1740337041ND
2017-08-30Q1740337009ND
2018-03-13Q1810167005ND
2019-01-10Q1901546003ND