Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Ely Municipal Water Department

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.

 

14

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.660 ppb110.660 ppb
20190.445 ppb21ND - 0.890 ppb
2020ND10ND
20210.533 ppb31ND - 1.60 ppb
20220.360 ppb51ND - 1.80 ppb
2023ND20ND

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
2018-03-282018033006340.660 ppb
2019-03-072019031503520.890 ppb
2019-09-26201910010466ND
2020-03-12202003170139ND
2021-03-25202103300423ND
2021-03-2521030759-001AND
2021-12-222021122901391.60 ppb
2022-03-102022031600741.80 ppb
2022-05-12380-1966-1ND
2022-07-07380-9979-1ND
2022-08-25810-36089-1ND
2022-08-25810-36089-2ND
2023-05-10380-47459-1ND
2023-11-08380-71012-1ND