Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Cottonwood Municipal Water Cw1

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.

 

24

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
2014ND20ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND80ND
2019N/A00N/A

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
2014-12-08201412090201SBND
2014-12-08201412090201SAND
2015-02-24201502240234SBND
2015-02-24201502240234SAND
2015-06-03201506040078SCND
2015-06-03201506040078SBND
2015-06-03201506040078SAND
2015-08-26201508270023SCND
2015-08-26201508270023SBND
2015-08-26201508270023SAND
2016-04-06201604070132SND
2016-09-21201609220072SND
2017-03-14201703150222SND
2017-05-23201705240226SND
2017-08-08201708090339SND
2017-11-20201711210054SND
2018-05-16201805170470SDND
2018-05-16201805170470SCND
2018-05-16201805170470SBND
2018-05-16201805170470SAND
2018-10-25201810260038SAND
2018-10-25201810260038SDND
2018-10-25201810260038SCND
2018-10-25201810260038SBND