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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Pasadena

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.

 

37

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
2014ND50ND
2015ND140ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND60ND
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
2014-08-129590-047-1000ND
2014-08-129590-045-1050ND
2014-08-129590-028-0845ND
2014-08-129590-023-0840ND
2014-11-219590-018-0900ND
2015-04-219590-005-0856ND
2015-04-219590-010-0900ND
2015-05-139590-023-0915ND
2015-05-139590-045-1005ND
2015-05-139590-028-0840ND
2015-05-139590-047-0940ND
2015-06-039590-018-1015ND
2015-08-119590-018-0906ND
2015-08-119590-005-1040ND
2015-08-119590-045-0945ND
2015-08-119590-006-1023ND
2015-08-119590-023-1230ND
2015-08-119590-028-1114ND
2015-08-119590-047-1120ND
2016-03-299590-045-0925ND
2016-03-299590-047-1006ND
2017-08-089588-047-1200ND
2017-08-089588-001-1145ND
2017-08-089588-005-0935ND
2017-08-089588-006-1030ND
2017-08-089588-045-0920ND
2017-08-089588-028-1120ND
2017-08-089588-023-1100ND
2017-08-089588-019-0910ND
2017-08-089588-018-0945ND
2017-08-089588-010-1305ND
2018-05-229588-045-1025ND
2018-05-229588-028-0855ND
2018-05-229588-023-1135ND
2018-05-229588-047-0910ND
2018-05-229588-005-1240ND
2018-05-229588-018-0950ND