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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

New York American Water - Merrick

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.

 

74

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND170ND
2016ND170ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018ND180ND
2019ND190ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-03-061403358-001-SOCSND
2014-07-171407C93-001ND
2014-07-171407C93-001-SOCSND
2015-06-291506M99-001ND
2015-06-291506M99-002ND
2015-07-221507G40-002ND
2015-07-221507G40-001ND
2015-08-061508534-002ND
2015-08-0615085354-001ND
2015-08-241508I54-002ND
2015-08-241508I54-001ND
2015-08-241508I54-003ND
2015-08-271508L59-001ND
2015-10-151510C35-002ND
2015-10-151510C35-001ND
2015-10-191510E53-001ND
2015-10-191510E53-002ND
2015-12-031512275-001ND
2015-12-181512G22-002ND
2015-12-181512G22-001ND
2016-01-141601A14-002ND
2016-01-141601A14-001ND
2016-05-201605J47-001ND
2016-09-191609F57-002ND
2016-09-191609F57-003ND
2016-09-191609F57-001ND
2016-09-191609F57-004ND
2016-09-221609J07-004ND
2016-09-221609J07-003ND
2016-09-221609J07-002ND
2016-09-221609J07-001ND
2016-09-291609Q58-003ND
2016-09-291609Q58-002ND
2016-09-291609Q58-001ND
2016-09-291609Q58-004ND
2016-10-06701433002ND
2016-10-06701433001ND
2018-01-3038294901ND
2018-04-2739224801ND
2018-04-2739224701ND
2018-05-0438911901ND
2018-05-0438911701ND
2018-06-2540332401ND
2018-06-2540332901ND
2018-07-2340698001ND
2018-07-2340697801ND
2018-08-0139950701ND
2018-08-0139950501ND
2018-09-137064741001ND
2018-09-137064741002ND
2018-10-0241165501ND
2018-10-1541553901ND
2018-10-1541554101ND
2018-10-2542043601ND
2018-12-2042308401ND
2019-01-3043103101ND
2019-02-2542605401ND
2019-03-0743510501ND
2019-04-2543774301ND
2019-07-2244672301ND
2019-07-2244673401ND
2019-08-1245156901ND
2019-08-1245158101ND
2019-08-1945158001ND
2019-08-1945158201ND
2019-10-2946964701ND
2019-10-2946139501ND
2019-10-3046897201ND
2019-10-3046897101ND
2019-11-2147627301ND
2019-11-2147298001ND
2019-12-0570114266002ND
2019-12-0570114266001ND
2019-12-0547298101ND