2,4-D
CTWC - Unionville System
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2014 | ND | 8 | 0 | ND |
2015 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
2016 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2017 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2019 | ND | 12 | 0 | ND |
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 |
---|---|---|
2014-01-21 | BG01716SOC2 | ND |
2014-01-21 | BG01717SOC2 | ND |
2014-01-21 | BG01713SOC2 | ND |
2014-01-22 | BG01714SOC2 | ND |
2014-01-22 | BG01715SOC2 | ND |
2014-01-22 | BG01718SOC2 | ND |
2014-01-22 | BG01719SOC2 | ND |
2014-02-14 | BG09385SOC2 | ND |
2015-02-04 | 3181316 | ND |
2015-06-03 | 3254568 | ND |
2015-07-13 | BJ46102SOC2 | ND |
2015-07-15 | BJ46999SOC2 | ND |
2017-08-29 | BY91937SOC2 | ND |
2017-08-29 | BY91939SOC2 | ND |
2017-08-29 | BY91938SOC2 | ND |
2017-11-21 | BZ45452SOC2 | ND |
2019-09-17 | SOC 200549386 | ND |
2019-09-17 | SOC 200549392 | ND |
2019-09-25 | SOC 200550426 | ND |
2019-09-25 | SOC 200550428 | ND |
2019-09-25 | SOC 200550427 | ND |
2019-10-02 | SOC 200551433 | ND |
2019-10-02 | SOC 200551434 | ND |
2019-10-09 | SOC 200552469 | ND |
2019-10-10 | SOC 200552468 | ND |
2019-10-10 | SOC 200552467 | ND |
2019-10-10 | SOC 200552466 | ND |
2019-10-10 | SOC 200552465 | ND |