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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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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.

 

27

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND60ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND60ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

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
2014-05-237094-03154SOC2ND
2014-05-237095-03155SOC2ND
2014-05-237096-03156SOC2ND
2014-05-237093-02881SOC2ND
2015-03-04E503351-1SOCND
2015-05-217211-03241SOC2ND
2015-05-217213-03243SOC2ND
2015-05-217212-03242SOC2ND
2015-05-217214-03244SOC2ND
2015-09-03E509525-1SOCND
2016-12-2018685-03740SOC2ND
2016-12-2018687-03742SOC2ND
2016-12-2018686-03741SOC2ND
2017-02-171929-03799SOC2ND
2017-04-053988-03821SOC2ND
2017-05-165847-03841SOC2ND
2017-05-165849-03842SOC2ND
2017-05-165848-03843SOC2ND
2017-05-165850-03844SOC2ND
2018-04-16SOCR 200492172ND
2018-04-16SOCR 200492175ND
2018-04-16SOCR 200492173ND
2018-04-16SOCR 200492174ND
2019-04-25SOCR 200529602ND
2019-04-25SOCR 200529605ND
2019-04-25SOCR 200529603ND
2019-04-25SOCR 200529604ND