Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Carbondale, Town of

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.

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND60ND
2020N/A00N/A
20210.554 ppb82ND - 3.70 ppb
20220.0663 ppb81ND - 0.530 ppb
2023ND80ND

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
2019-03-25ND
2019-03-25ND
2019-03-25ND
2019-12-17ND
2019-12-17ND
2019-12-17ND
2021-06-16ND
2021-06-16ND
2021-06-16ND
2021-09-200.730 ppb
2021-09-203.70 ppb
2021-10-26ND
2021-11-02ND
2021-11-02ND
2022-03-010.530 ppb
2022-03-01ND
2022-06-13ND
2022-06-13ND
2022-09-19ND
2022-09-19ND
2022-10-18ND
2022-10-18ND
2023-03-01ND
2023-03-01ND
2023-06-19ND
2023-06-19ND
2023-09-18ND
2023-09-18ND
2023-11-29ND
2023-11-29ND