Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Town of Hampstead

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.

 

17

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019N/A00N/A
2020ND10ND
2021ND80ND
2022ND20ND
2023N/A00N/A

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
2018-10-02E19001152003ND
2018-10-02E19001152005ND
2018-10-02E19001152007ND
2018-10-02E19001152009ND
2018-10-02E19001152011ND
2018-10-02E19001152001ND
2020-07-29E21000293001ND
2021-01-31E21001849001ND
2021-04-08E22000815006ND
2021-06-03E21003569001ND
2021-06-03E21003570001ND
2021-09-08E22000815001ND
2021-09-08E22000815011ND
2021-09-08E22000815016ND
2021-09-08E22000815021ND
2022-05-25E2201063601ND
2022-08-03E2300023805ND