2,4-D
Metropolitan District Commission
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ND | 11 | 0 | ND |
| 2019 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
| 2020 | ND | 7 | 0 | ND |
| 2021 | ND | 7 | 0 | ND |
| 2022 | ND | 7 | 0 | ND |
| 2023 | ND | 7 | 0 | ND |
ppb = parts per billion
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-06-27 | CA79476 | ND |
| 2018-06-27 | CA79475 | ND |
| 2018-06-27 | CA79477 | ND |
| 2018-07-18 | SOCR 200500124 | ND |
| 2018-07-18 | SOCR 200500122 | ND |
| 2018-07-18 | SOCR 200500126 | ND |
| 2018-07-18 | SOCR 200500125 | ND |
| 2018-09-25 | CB38504 | ND |
| 2018-09-25 | CB38505R | ND |
| 2018-09-25 | CB38869 | ND |
| 2018-09-25 | CB38505 | ND |
| 2019-07-08 | SOCR 200539198 | ND |
| 2019-07-08 | SOCR 200539200 | ND |
| 2019-07-08 | SOCR 200539199 | ND |
| 2019-07-08 | SOCR 200539197 | ND |
| 2020-12-08 | SOC 200600638 | ND |
| 2020-12-08 | SOC 200600609 | ND |
| 2020-12-08 | SOCR 200600618 | ND |
| 2020-12-08 | SOCR 200600626 | ND |
| 2020-12-08 | SOCR 200600627 | ND |
| 2020-12-08 | SOCR 200600628 | ND |
| 2020-12-09 | SOC 200600592 | ND |
| 2021-11-23 | S300107593 300107595 | ND |
| 2021-11-23 | H300107603 300107604 | ND |
| 2021-11-23 | S300107511 300107512 | ND |
| 2021-11-29 | S300109627 300109628 | ND |
| 2021-11-29 | H300109590 300109592 | ND |
| 2021-11-30 | H300109617 300109620 | ND |
| 2021-11-30 | H300109618 300109622 | ND |
| 2022-12-08 | H300283837 300283839 | ND |
| 2022-12-08 | 300283822 300283832C | ND |
| 2022-12-15 | S300287062 300287064 | ND |
| 2022-12-15 | H300287081 300287083 | ND |
| 2022-12-15 | H300287109 300287117 | ND |
| 2022-12-15 | S300287090 300287092 | ND |
| 2022-12-15 | S300287039 300287043 | ND |
| 2023-12-05 | S300456329 300456331 | ND |
| 2023-12-05 | H300456519 300456521 | ND |
| 2023-12-05 | H300456542 300456544 | ND |
| 2023-12-05 | H300456513 300456515 | ND |
| 2023-12-06 | S300456308 300456310 | ND |
| 2023-12-06 | S300456298 300456300 | ND |
| 2023-12-06 | H300456516 300456518 | ND |