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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

City of Tempe

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, or DEHP, is a softener added to PVC plastics. Phthalates are hormone disruptors that target the male reproductive system. Read More.

DEHP can cross the placenta and disrupt steroid hormone synthesis, and may lead to cancer. In laboratory animals, exposure to DEHP during pregnancy harms fetal developmental and causes abnormalities in the male reproductive tract. Human epidemiological studies show certain phthalates, especially DEHP, are associated with reduced anogenital distance in human male infants, which is a measure of adverse developmental effects in human male� infants exposed prenatally to endocrine disrupting chemicals. DEHP may also interfere with signaling related to the timing of birth and may have adverse effects on the immune system.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

66

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND260ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017ND310ND
2018ND50ND
2019ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 3 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 3 ppb for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 6 ppb

The legal limit for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-02201401020127SND
2014-01-28201401280517SND
2014-01-28201401280513SND
2014-01-28201401280511SND
2014-01-28201401280471SND
2014-01-29201401290590SND
2014-01-29201401290579SND
2014-01-29201401290576SND
2014-01-29201401290573SND
2014-01-29201401290571SND
2014-03-24201403240026SND
2014-04-28201404290168SND
2014-04-30201404300549SND
2014-07-29201407290360SND
2014-07-29201407290356SND
2014-07-29201407290358SND
2014-07-29201407290362SND
2014-07-29201407290364SND
2014-07-30201407300558SND
2014-07-30201407300560SND
2014-07-30201407300562SND
2014-07-30201407300564SND
2014-07-30201407300566SND
2014-07-30201407300568SND
2014-11-12201411120111SND
2014-11-12201411120110SND
2017-01-03201701030387SND
2017-01-03201701030385SND
2017-01-17201701170373SND
2017-01-17201701170371SND
2017-01-18201701190148SND
2017-01-18201701190155SND
2017-01-18201701190150SND
2017-01-19201701190167SND
2017-01-26201701260263SND
2017-01-26201701260254SND
2017-01-31201702010341SND
2017-01-31201702010339SND
2017-03-23201703230333SND
2017-06-01201706010858SND
2017-06-01201706010849SND
2017-08-28201708280413SND
2017-08-28201708280408SND
2017-08-28201708280402SND
2017-08-28201708280365SND
2017-08-28201708280362SND
2017-08-29201708290330SND
2017-08-29201708290316SND
2017-08-30201708300568SND
2017-09-06201709060759SND
2017-09-06201709060717SND
2017-09-07201709070469SND
2017-09-07201709070466SND
2017-10-03201710030741SND
2017-10-11201710110933SND
2017-10-11201710110930SND
2017-10-26201710260283SND
2018-02-13201802130408SND
2018-04-10201804100343SND
2018-06-14201806140697SND
2018-09-13201809130627SND
2018-10-10201810100917SND
2019-01-02201901020284SND
2019-03-13201903130281SND
2019-07-24201907250148SND
2019-07-25201907250154SND