Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Polk City Water Supply

NOTE: Polk City Water Supply purchases water from Des Moines Water Works which is required to test for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Sample information shown below was taken by Des Moines Water Works.

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.

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND30ND
2023ND10ND

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

NOTE: Polk City Water Supply purchases water from Des Moines Water Works which is required to test for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Sample information shown below was taken by Des Moines Water Works.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-07-09OE680202ND
2018-07-16OE683859ND
2018-08-27OE704971ND
2018-10-08OE724008ND
2019-06-04OE817109ND
2019-07-09OE831885ND
2019-07-16OE835743ND
2019-08-21OE854920ND
2019-10-31OE887524ND
2020-01-29OE922126ND
2020-10-12OE1332018ND
2021-03-08OE1616644ND
2021-06-21OE1737110ND
2021-07-06OE1748365ND
2021-07-06OE1748381ND
2021-07-06OE1748382ND
2022-07-05OE2128016ND
2022-07-05OE2128018ND
2022-09-19OE2175664ND
2023-10-16OE2350834ND