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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Bethel Water Department

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.

 

26

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND60ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND40ND
2017ND70ND
2018ND50ND
2019ND20ND

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
2014-03-25184982CHND
2014-03-25184981CHND
2014-06-09187419CHND
2014-06-09187420CHND
2014-07-22188804CHND
2014-07-22188805CHND
2015-04-13195727CHND
2015-04-13195728CHND
2016-01-26204627CHND
2016-02-22205492CHND
2016-02-22205493CHND
2016-04-05206678GEND
2017-03-27218426GEND
2017-03-27218427GEND
2017-04-10218934GEND
2017-04-10218933GEND
2017-04-10218936GEND
2017-04-10218935GEND
2017-12-05307526GEND
2018-01-30308987GEND
2018-02-13309370GEND
2018-02-13309371GEND
2018-04-17311174GEND
2018-07-03313820GEND
2019-01-29320477GEND
2019-01-29320488GEND