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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Camp Pendleton (South)

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.

 

63

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
2014ND70ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND70ND
2018ND270ND
2019ND130ND

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
2014-03-139590-044-1126ND
2014-03-139590-043-1045ND
2014-03-259590-037-1205ND
2014-06-119590-043-1140ND
2014-06-129590-044-1220ND
2014-08-219590-043-1155ND
2014-11-059590-044-1245ND
2015-01-269590-044-1136ND
2015-05-209590-044-1035ND
2015-08-249590-051-1230ND
2015-11-169590-051-1030ND
2016-02-119590-051-1130ND
2016-04-289590-044-1102ND
2016-05-059590-051-1045ND
2016-07-289590-044-1145ND
2016-10-279590-044-1120ND
2017-01-259590-044-1300ND
2017-05-109590-039-1215ND
2017-05-119590-030-1245ND
2017-11-179590-039-1230ND
2017-11-179590-032-1045ND
2017-12-049590-030-1245ND
2017-12-289590-049-1110ND
2018-02-089590-014-1235ND
2018-02-129590-036-1335ND
2018-02-149590-018-0740ND
2018-03-149590-051-1242ND
2018-03-169590-020-1110ND
2018-03-199590-035-1200ND
2018-03-219590-034-1245ND
2018-03-229590-043-1125ND
2018-03-229590-044-1020ND
2018-03-269590-022-1340ND
2018-03-299590-037-1302ND
2018-03-299590-019-1225ND
2018-04-249590-039-1220ND
2018-04-259590-030-1300ND
2018-05-019590-049-1300ND
2018-05-169590-032-1230ND
2018-08-169590-014-1032ND
2018-08-169590-036-1100ND
2018-08-249590-018-0725ND
2018-09-199590-035-1102ND
2018-09-199590-043-1205ND
2018-09-199590-044-1150ND
2018-09-199590-020-1055ND
2018-09-209590-034-1202ND
2018-09-209590-051-1125ND
2018-09-249590-037-1145ND
2018-09-249590-019-1215ND
2019-01-309590-020-1052ND
2019-01-319590-034-1100ND
2019-02-219590-014-1320ND
2019-02-289590-051-1042ND
2019-03-019590-035-1102ND
2019-03-159590-044-1120ND
2019-03-159590-043-1035ND
2019-03-219590-037-1100ND
2019-03-219590-019-1136ND
2019-05-079590-049-1025ND
2019-05-079590-032-0835ND
2019-05-089590-039-1215ND
2019-05-099590-030-1100ND