Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Saegertown Borough

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.

 

36

Samples

1

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
20191.67 ppb71ND - 11.7 ppb
2020ND80ND
20210.800 ppb51ND - 4.00 ppb
2022ND50ND
2023ND60ND

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
2018-04-022307048001ND
2018-04-032307046001ND
2018-04-032307047001ND
2018-04-032307049001ND
2018-04-032307050001ND
2019-05-143034608002ND
2019-05-143034608003ND
2019-05-143034608004ND
2019-05-143034608001ND
2019-05-14303460800511.7 ppb
2019-08-063050189001ND
2019-10-013061864001ND
2020-01-0721601627.00ND
2020-04-0722138784.00ND
2020-04-0722138966.00ND
2020-04-0722139020.00ND
2020-04-0722138993.00ND
2020-04-0722139047.00ND
2020-04-0722138939.00ND
2020-07-0722722704.00ND
2021-04-0624360708.00ND
2021-04-0624360707.00ND
2021-04-0624360709.00ND
2021-04-0624360706.00ND
2021-04-0624360710.004.00 ppb
2022-04-0526574516.00ND
2022-04-0526574515.00ND
2022-04-0526574519.00ND
2022-04-0526574518.00ND
2022-04-0526574517.00ND
2023-04-0428822897.00ND
2023-04-0428822644.00ND
2023-04-0428822583.00ND
2023-04-0428822675.00ND
2023-04-0428822704.00ND
2023-04-0428822613.00ND