Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Costilla County Ws

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, or DEHP, is a softener added to PVC plastics. Phthalates are hormone disruptors that target the male reproductive system. Read More.

DEHP can cross the placenta and disrupt steroid hormone synthesis, and may lead to cancer. In laboratory animals, exposure to DEHP during pregnancy harms fetal developmental and causes abnormalities in the male reproductive tract. Human epidemiological studies show certain phthalates, especially DEHP, are associated with reduced anogenital distance in human male infants, which is a measure of adverse developmental effects in human male� infants exposed prenatally to endocrine disrupting chemicals. DEHP may also interfere with signaling related to the timing of birth and may have adverse effects on the immune system.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

5

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20183.15 ppb442.60 ppb - 3.60 ppb
20190.325 ppb41ND - 1.30 ppb
20200.500 ppb21ND - 1.000 ppb
20211.73 ppb440.900 ppb - 3.30 ppb
20220.1000 ppb71ND - 0.700 ppb
20232.25 ppb440.800 ppb - 5.10 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 3 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 3 ppb for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 6 ppb

The legal limit for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Result
2018-03-133.30 ppb
2018-04-043.60 ppb
2018-07-242.60 ppb
2018-10-153.10 ppb
2019-01-151.30 ppb
2019-07-17ND
2019-10-29ND
2019-11-18ND
2020-06-101.000 ppb
2020-07-14ND
2021-01-201.40 ppb
2021-06-073.30 ppb
2021-08-181.30 ppb
2021-11-300.900 ppb
2022-02-08ND
2022-04-11ND
2022-07-21ND
2022-10-12ND
2022-11-280.700 ppb
2022-11-30ND
2022-12-06ND
2023-01-241.70 ppb
2023-04-100.800 ppb
2023-07-171.40 ppb
2023-10-175.10 ppb