Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

2,4-D

Ruston Water System

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.

 

22

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A
2020ND120ND
2021N/A00N/A
2022N/A00N/A
2023ND100ND

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
2020-01-0735523111001ND
2020-01-1335524733008ND
2020-01-1335524733001ND
2020-01-1335524733002ND
2020-01-1335524733003ND
2020-01-1335524733004ND
2020-01-1335524733005ND
2020-01-1335524733006ND
2020-01-1335524733007ND
2020-06-2235558556001ND
2020-06-2235558556002ND
2020-12-0835597801001ND
2023-02-2735782669001ND
2023-02-2735782669002ND
2023-02-2735782669003ND
2023-02-2735782669004ND
2023-02-2735782669005ND
2023-03-0635784479001ND
2023-03-0635784479002ND
2023-03-0635784479003ND
2023-03-0635784479004ND
2023-03-0635784479005ND