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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Rancho California Water District

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.

 

57

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND100ND
2016ND90ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND150ND
2019ND90ND

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
2014-02-074790-143-0924ND
2014-05-084790-143-1015ND
2014-08-064790-143-0905ND
2014-09-044790-059-0935ND
2015-01-294790-142-1030ND
2015-02-104790-143-0905ND
2015-04-224790-053-1200ND
2015-04-224790-142-1015ND
2015-05-144790-095-1505ND
2015-05-144790-143-1505ND
2015-07-144790-142-1020ND
2015-08-054790-143-1455ND
2015-10-144790-142-1045ND
2015-11-044790-143-0955ND
2016-01-204790-142-1030ND
2016-02-294790-150-1830ND
2016-03-024790-071-1035ND
2016-04-144790-142-1100ND
2016-06-094790-018-1020ND
2016-07-274790-142-1520ND
2016-10-114790-015-0935ND
2016-10-114790-051-1030ND
2016-11-094790-153-1110ND
2017-02-035810-153-1050ND
2017-03-234790-142-1020ND
2017-04-124790-142-1030ND
2017-05-044790-153-1010ND
2017-07-134790-142-1035ND
2017-08-104790-153-1215ND
2017-09-014790-150-0925ND
2017-09-284790-059-0943ND
2017-11-084790-150-1445ND
2017-11-224790-151-1100ND
2018-02-079588-150-1251ND
2018-02-079588-151-1127ND
2018-04-134790-053-1150ND
2018-04-254790-152-1135ND
2018-05-034790-150-1130ND
2018-05-034790-151-1235ND
2018-07-174790-152-1045ND
2018-08-094790-151-1000ND
2018-08-144790-150-0914ND
2018-08-224790-151-1007ND
2018-10-034790-152-1030ND
2018-10-174790-155-1240ND
2018-11-274790-151-1222ND
2018-11-274790-150-1113ND
2018-11-274790-143-1005ND
2019-01-094790-152-1100ND
2019-01-094790-155-0930ND
2019-02-194790-150-1022ND
2019-02-194790-151-0900ND
2019-03-124790-071-1030ND
2019-04-024790-155-1115ND
2019-06-044790-018-1030ND
2019-07-254790-155-0945ND
2019-10-084790-051-1045ND