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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Paw Penn District

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.

 

32

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND160ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017ND140ND
2018N/A00N/A
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
2014-04-0125337701ND
2014-04-0125337901ND
2014-04-0225337201ND
2014-04-0225338601ND
2014-04-0225337501ND
2014-04-0425337101ND
2014-04-0425338401ND
2014-04-0425338101ND
2014-07-0726114201ND
2014-07-0726113001ND
2014-07-0726113501ND
2014-07-0926113701ND
2014-07-0926114001ND
2014-07-0926113301ND
2014-07-0926113101ND
2014-09-0426113901ND
2017-04-0315975892ND
2017-04-0315975861ND
2017-04-0315975830ND
2017-04-0315975801ND
2017-04-0315975770ND
2017-04-0315975923ND
2017-04-0315975741ND
2017-07-0616450218ND
2017-07-0616450247ND
2017-07-0616450278ND
2017-07-0616450340ND
2017-07-1116450160ND
2017-07-1116450309ND
2017-07-1116450189ND
2019-07-1545716201ND
2019-10-3143999701ND