Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Tensas Water District Association

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.

 

28

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND50ND

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

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-0835367824002ND
2018-01-0835367824002ND
2018-07-3035407878001ND
2018-07-3035407878001ND
2019-01-1435442603003ND
2019-01-1435442603003ND
2019-07-3135486747001ND
2019-07-3135486747001ND
2019-10-0435502811001ND
2019-10-0435502811001ND
2020-01-0635523112001ND
2020-04-1535544425001ND
2020-08-1235570539001ND
2020-09-0935577116001ND
2020-11-1035591783001ND
2021-01-1835605842001ND
2021-05-1335633523002ND
2021-09-1535664394001ND
2021-12-0335682177001ND
2022-01-1835692112003ND
2022-04-1135711946001ND
2022-08-1535741176003ND
2022-12-0735766643001ND
2023-01-1735773661001ND
2023-02-0635778177002ND
2023-04-1235794072001ND
2023-07-1835814093001ND
2023-11-0735841747001ND