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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

California American Water Company - Monterey

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.

 

99

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
2014ND490ND
2015ND10ND
2016ND60ND
2017ND390ND
2018ND10ND
2019ND30ND

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
2014-01-211225-089-1140ND
2014-01-221225-092-1145ND
2014-02-121225-047-1355ND
2014-02-121225-046-1340ND
2014-02-181225-044-1400ND
2014-02-181225-017-1335ND
2014-02-181225-054-1230ND
2014-02-181225-045-1210ND
2014-02-191225-033-1320ND
2014-02-201225-016-1300ND
2014-04-081225-082-1155ND
2014-04-161225-051-1335ND
2014-04-221225-029-1045ND
2014-04-221225-050-1130ND
2014-04-241225-092-1005ND
2014-04-241225-024-0900ND
2014-04-291225-089-1030ND
2014-05-131225-016-1240ND
2014-05-131225-017-1300ND
2014-05-141225-047-1305ND
2014-05-141225-046-1250ND
2014-05-191225-054-0930ND
2014-05-201225-045-1350ND
2014-06-091225-074-1100ND
2014-06-091225-002-1045ND
2014-06-091225-072-0915ND
2014-06-101225-044-1015ND
2014-06-111225-006-1330ND
2014-06-111225-026-0915ND
2014-06-231225-020-1030ND
2014-06-231225-073-0910ND
2014-06-231225-052-1150ND
2014-07-141225-082-1300ND
2014-07-281225-051-0830ND
2014-07-281225-029-0940ND
2014-07-281225-048-1110ND
2014-07-281225-033-1109ND
2014-07-311225-024-1325ND
2014-08-141225-050-1150ND
2014-09-041225-073-0945ND
2014-09-041225-072-0845ND
2014-09-091225-074-1230ND
2014-09-091225-026-1045ND
2014-09-221225-020-1045ND
2014-09-221225-052-0900ND
2014-09-221225-002-0915ND
2014-09-301225-006-0940ND
2014-10-081225-033-1030ND
2014-10-201225-048-1000ND
2015-07-221225-070-0930ND
2016-01-205810-087-1055ND
2016-05-181225-087-1045ND
2016-08-171225-087-1330ND
2016-08-221225-070-1010ND
2016-10-121225-087-0930ND
2016-10-121225-070-1325ND
2017-02-081225-047-1415ND
2017-02-081225-046-1430ND
2017-02-081225-045-1007ND
2017-02-081225-044-1020ND
2017-02-081225-017-1330ND
2017-02-081225-016-1048ND
2017-03-021225-024-1145ND
2017-03-081225-082-1108ND
2017-03-141225-051-1400ND
2017-03-141225-050-1310ND
2017-03-171225-048-1226ND
2017-04-061225-073-0900ND
2017-04-061225-026-0930ND
2017-04-061225-072-1030ND
2017-04-061225-052-1000ND
2017-04-071225-006-0900ND
2017-04-071225-002-0940ND
2017-04-071225-074-0915ND
2017-05-041225-017-1100ND
2017-05-041225-016-1130ND
2017-05-051225-047-0945ND
2017-05-051225-046-0930ND
2017-05-051225-045-1000ND
2017-05-101225-044-1346ND
2017-05-101225-087-1425ND
2017-06-021225-050-1436ND
2017-06-121225-048-0850ND
2017-06-131225-024-1110ND
2017-06-141225-051-0900ND
2017-06-141225-082-1208ND
2017-07-111225-072-0930ND
2017-07-111225-073-1000ND
2017-07-121225-002-1030ND
2017-07-121225-074-0945ND
2017-07-121225-006-0905ND
2017-07-171225-052-0845ND
2017-08-141225-087-1230ND
2017-08-181225-029-1200ND
2017-12-201225-026-0900ND
2018-01-221225-029-1000ND
2019-08-081225-070-1537ND
2019-10-101225-088-1630ND
2019-12-021225-070-1510ND