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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Cassatt Water Kershaw-lee Company RWA

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.

 

29

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND60ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND100ND
2017ND10ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND120ND

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
2014-01-22AD34864ND
2014-03-21AD37449ND
2014-04-23AD38844ND
2014-04-23AD38845ND
2014-08-13AD44050ND
2014-10-30AD47415ND
2016-04-19AD74644ND
2016-04-19AD74643ND
2016-04-19AD74642ND
2016-04-25AD74833ND
2016-04-25AD74840ND
2016-04-25AD74839ND
2016-04-25AD74835ND
2016-04-25AD74834ND
2016-05-18AD76187ND
2016-12-13AD87138ND
2017-11-14AE03765ND
2019-04-24AE29257ND
2019-04-24AE29260ND
2019-04-24AE29258ND
2019-05-01AE29685ND
2019-05-01AE29686ND
2019-05-01AE29691ND
2019-05-01AE29688ND
2019-05-01AE29692ND
2019-05-01AE29689ND
2019-05-01AE29684ND
2019-05-01AE29682ND
2019-08-14AE35357ND