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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

West Hempstead WD

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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND50ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND60ND
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
2014-08-281408K48-004-SOCSND
2014-08-281408K48-005-SOCSND
2014-08-281408K48-003-SOCSND
2014-08-281408K48-002-SOCSND
2014-08-281408K48-001-SOCSND
2015-11-301511K77-002-SOCSND
2015-11-301511K77-001-SOCSND
2015-11-301511K77-003-SOCSND
2015-11-301511K77-004-SOCSND
2016-06-221606M34-001-SOCSND
2016-06-221606M34-002-SOCSND
2017-06-147021376002-SOCSND
2017-06-147021376001-SOCSND
2018-10-297069359003ND
2018-10-297069359002ND
2018-10-297069359006ND
2018-10-297069359001ND
2018-10-297069359005ND
2018-10-297069359004ND
2019-10-0970107922001ND
2019-10-0970107922002ND
2019-10-1070108060002ND
2019-10-1070108060001ND
2019-10-1070108060004ND
2019-10-1070108060003ND