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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

North Wales Water Authority

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.

 

49

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND200ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND200ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND

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
2014-04-0714030700-01ND
2014-04-0714030702-01ND
2014-04-0714030711-01ND
2014-04-0714030703-01ND
2014-04-0714030710-01ND
2014-04-0714030704-01ND
2014-04-0714030709-01ND
2014-04-0714030706-01ND
2014-04-0714030708-01ND
2014-04-0714030707-01ND
2014-07-141427095ND
2014-07-141427093ND
2014-07-141427118ND
2014-07-141427152ND
2014-07-141427100ND
2014-07-281429123ND
2014-07-281429456ND
2014-07-281429455ND
2014-07-281429458ND
2014-07-281429122ND
2015-04-0612751342ND
2015-04-0612634716ND
2015-05-0412751217ND
2016-04-0414104376ND
2016-04-0414104375ND
2017-04-0415939277ND
2017-04-1015939806ND
2017-04-1015939979ND
2017-04-1015939950ND
2017-04-1015939921ND
2017-04-1015939891ND
2017-04-1015939777ND
2017-04-1015939747ND
2017-04-1015939835ND
2017-04-1015939864ND
2017-07-2416567819ND
2017-07-2416568185ND
2017-07-2416567679ND
2017-07-2416567735ND
2017-07-2416567963ND
2017-07-2616567791ND
2017-07-2616567707ND
2017-07-2616567935ND
2017-07-2616567763ND
2017-08-0216567842ND
2018-04-092308183002ND
2018-04-092308183003ND
2019-04-089043206-02ND
2019-04-089043206-03ND