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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Fairview Union 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.

 

36

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND60ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND60ND

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
2014-04-14AD90605ND
2014-04-14AD90605ND
2014-05-07AD91345ND
2014-05-07AD91345ND
2014-06-11AD92200ND
2014-06-11AD92200ND
2015-03-0935178883001ND
2015-03-0935178883001ND
2015-10-1235211703001ND
2015-10-1235211703001ND
2016-03-2835236604007ND
2016-03-2835236604007ND
2016-04-1235239164008ND
2016-04-1235239164008ND
2016-06-1335250073010ND
2016-06-1335250073010ND
2016-11-2135279123006ND
2016-11-2135279123006ND
2017-03-2935303649005ND
2017-03-2935303649005ND
2017-04-1035306447002ND
2017-04-1035306447002ND
2017-06-0935318513012ND
2017-06-0935318513012ND
2017-10-2335344154001ND
2017-10-2335344154001ND
2018-01-2235370033001ND
2018-01-2235370033001ND
2018-07-3135408507001ND
2018-07-3135408507001ND
2019-02-2535450972001ND
2019-02-2535450972001ND
2019-08-2635493338001ND
2019-08-2635493338001ND
2019-09-2535500914001ND
2019-09-2535500914001ND