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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Johnson County SUD

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.

 

22

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND110ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017ND110ND
2018N/A00N/A
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
2014-01-28Q1402599010ND
2014-01-28Q1402599009ND
2014-01-29Q1402807010ND
2014-01-29Q1402807018ND
2014-01-29Q1402807017ND
2014-01-29Q1402807016ND
2014-01-29Q1402807013ND
2014-05-29Q1418453009ND
2014-05-29Q1418453008ND
2014-05-29Q1418453007ND
2014-07-22Q1430047003ND
2017-02-14Q1706687005ND
2017-05-04Q1718433011ND
2017-08-16Q1736301030ND
2017-08-16Q1736301029ND
2017-08-16Q1736301028ND
2017-08-16Q1736301027ND
2017-08-16Q1736301026ND
2017-08-16Q1736301025ND
2017-11-07Q1756990004ND
2017-11-07Q1756990022ND
2017-11-07Q1756990021ND