2,4-D
New Britain 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.
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 | 4 | 0 | ND |
| 2019 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
| 2020 | ND | 6 | 0 | ND |
| 2021 | ND | 5 | 0 | ND |
| 2022 | ND | 6 | 0 | ND |
| 2023 | ND | 5 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-04-16 | SOCR 200492175 | ND |
| 2018-04-16 | SOCR 200492173 | ND |
| 2018-04-16 | SOCR 200492174 | ND |
| 2018-04-16 | SOCR 200492172 | ND |
| 2019-04-25 | SOCR 200529602 | ND |
| 2019-04-25 | SOCR 200529605 | ND |
| 2019-04-25 | SOCR 200529603 | ND |
| 2019-04-25 | SOCR 200529604 | ND |
| 2020-04-22 | SOCR 200573261 | ND |
| 2020-04-22 | SOCR 200573264 | ND |
| 2020-04-22 | SOCR 200573262 | ND |
| 2020-04-22 | SOCR 200573263 | ND |
| 2020-05-12 | SOC 200575348 | ND |
| 2020-09-16 | SOC 200590476 | ND |
| 2021-04-20 | SOCR 200613887 | ND |
| 2021-04-20 | SOCR 200613886 | ND |
| 2021-04-20 | SOCR 200613885 | ND |
| 2021-04-20 | SOCR 200613884 | ND |
| 2021-09-28 | 300069325 300069326 | ND |
| 2022-04-20 | H300172353 300172354 | ND |
| 2022-04-20 | H300172362 300172363 | ND |
| 2022-04-20 | H300172356 300172357 | ND |
| 2022-04-20 | H300172359 300172360 | ND |
| 2022-05-24 | S300188084 300188129 | ND |
| 2022-09-19 | S300245682 300245683 | ND |
| 2023-04-17 | H300334377 300334378 | ND |
| 2023-04-17 | H300334386 300334387 | ND |
| 2023-04-17 | H300334380 300334381 | ND |
| 2023-04-17 | H300334383 300334384 | ND |
| 2023-05-22 | S300354391 300354392 | ND |