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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

City of Watsonville

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.

 

55

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND280ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND270ND

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
2016-03-159590-006-0930ND
2016-03-159590-014-1120ND
2016-03-159590-009-1015ND
2016-03-159590-015-1050ND
2016-03-159590-010-0950ND
2016-03-159590-007-1145ND
2016-03-159590-016-1120ND
2016-03-159590-013-0915ND
2016-03-159590-029-1050ND
2016-03-159590-011-1205ND
2016-03-159590-030-0830ND
2016-03-159590-012-1015ND
2016-06-149590-015-1300ND
2016-06-149590-013-0840ND
2016-06-149590-010-0950ND
2016-06-149590-011-1315ND
2016-06-149590-012-1220ND
2016-06-149590-014-0850ND
2016-06-149590-009-1050ND
2016-06-149590-007-1045ND
2016-06-149590-006-0910ND
2016-06-149590-016-1020ND
2016-06-149590-029-1000ND
2016-06-149590-030-1020ND
2016-06-149590-004-1210ND
2016-06-209590-005-1510ND
2016-09-139590-004-1400ND
2016-09-139590-005-1440ND
2019-04-309590-011-1000ND
2019-04-309590-030-0730ND
2019-04-309590-004-0830ND
2019-04-309590-029-0850ND
2019-04-309590-005-0915ND
2019-04-309590-016-0820ND
2019-04-309590-015-0725ND
2019-04-309590-007-1050ND
2019-04-309590-014-0750ND
2019-04-309590-012-1340ND
2019-04-309590-013-0720ND
2019-04-309590-009-0820ND
2019-04-309590-010-0930ND
2019-08-219590-016-0850ND
2019-08-219590-030-1020ND
2019-08-219590-011-0735ND
2019-08-219590-004-0820ND
2019-08-219590-029-0830ND
2019-08-219590-012-0750ND
2019-08-219590-010-1000ND
2019-08-219590-005-0910ND
2019-08-219590-006-0730ND
2019-08-219590-015-0720ND
2019-08-219590-013-0705ND
2019-08-219590-009-0755ND
2019-08-219590-007-0815ND
2019-08-219590-014-0735ND