Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority, Chesterfield Division

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.

 

26

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND40ND

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 Lab ID Result
2018-01-23BZ78649SOC5ND
2018-04-10CA17280SOC5ND
2018-07-17CA91800ND
2018-10-23CB80292ND
2019-01-15CC29291ND
2019-04-16CC95665ND
2019-07-16CD57852ND
2019-09-17CE11196ND
2019-10-08CE28980ND
2020-01-14CF11957ND
2020-04-14CF72871ND
2020-07-15CG34151ND
2020-10-20CG99945ND
2021-01-26CH52699ND
2021-04-13CH98019ND
2021-07-13CI72447ND
2021-10-26CJ65129ND
2022-01-25CK23108ND
2022-04-19CL11783ND
2022-07-19CL81020ND
2022-09-20CM36465ND
2022-10-18CM64799ND
2023-01-24CN29151ND
2023-04-11CN80593ND
2023-07-11CO47577ND
2023-10-17CP27585ND