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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

San Antonio Water System

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

106

Samples

1

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND70ND
2015ND150ND
20160.0550 ppb201ND - 1.10 ppb
20170.0722 ppb181ND - 1.30 ppb
20180.361 ppb232ND - 7.70 ppb
2019ND230ND

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
2014-05-13AC54012ND
2014-06-30AC58434ND
2014-07-29AC61411ND
2014-07-31AC61824ND
2014-09-02AC65488ND
2014-09-29AC68443ND
2014-11-25AC73029ND
2015-04-02AC87168ND
2015-04-02AC87166ND
2015-04-02AC87169ND
2015-04-02AC87172ND
2015-04-02AC87167ND
2015-07-30AD01893ND
2015-07-30AD01891ND
2015-07-30AD01892ND
2015-09-28AD08854ND
2015-09-28AD08855ND
2015-09-29AD09047ND
2015-09-29AD09046ND
2015-09-29AD09045ND
2015-10-28AD12058ND
2015-11-23AD14488ND
2016-01-13AD18011ND
2016-01-14AD18404ND
2016-04-05AD31889ND
2016-04-06AD32180ND
2016-04-07AD32388ND
2016-06-28AD42305ND
2016-09-01AD47746ND
2016-11-02AD56268ND
2016-11-02AD562671.10 ppb
2016-11-02AD56270ND
2016-11-03AD56568ND
2016-11-03AD56567ND
2016-11-03AD56570ND
2016-11-03AD56569ND
2016-11-04AD56931ND
2016-11-28AD59246ND
2016-11-28AD59247ND
2016-11-29AD59441ND
2016-11-29AD59442ND
2016-11-29AD59440ND
2017-01-30AD67698ND
2017-01-30AD67697ND
2017-01-30AD676991.30 ppb
2017-02-01AD68212ND
2017-02-01AD68211ND
2017-02-02AD68520ND
2017-03-06AD73531ND
2017-03-30AD77877ND
2017-04-25AD81022ND
2017-07-06AD88552ND
2017-10-17AE01180ND
2017-12-04AE06646ND
2017-12-04AE06645ND
2017-12-05AE06841ND
2017-12-06AE07092ND
2017-12-08AE07467ND
2017-12-13AE07729ND
2017-12-13AE07728ND
2018-03-01AE16443ND
2018-03-26AE20083ND
2018-03-26AE20082ND
2018-05-10AE26000ND
2018-07-02AE32327ND
2018-08-31AE39198ND
2018-09-26AE41823ND
2018-09-26AE41821ND
2018-09-26AE41822ND
2018-09-27AE42095ND
2018-09-27AE420940.610 ppb
2018-09-27AE42097ND
2018-09-27AE42098ND
2018-09-27AE42096ND
2018-11-19AE46536ND
2018-11-19AE46539ND
2018-11-19AE46538ND
2018-11-19AE46537ND
2018-11-20AE467097.70 ppb
2018-12-07AE48437ND
2018-12-07AE48438ND
2018-12-13AE48879ND
2018-12-13AE48880ND
2019-01-30AE52306ND
2019-01-31AE52528ND
2019-01-31AE52534ND
2019-03-07AE57699ND
2019-03-07AE57683ND
2019-03-07AE57684ND
2019-03-07AE57693ND
2019-03-28AE60556ND
2019-03-28AE60555ND
2019-04-23AE63422ND
2019-04-23AE63421ND
2019-04-25AE63811ND
2019-05-21AE67488ND
2019-05-21AE67487ND
2019-05-21AE67489ND
2019-07-25AE76053ND
2019-11-14AE89330ND
2019-11-25AE90467ND
2019-11-25AE90468ND
2019-11-25AE90469ND
2019-11-26AE90689ND
2019-11-26AE90690ND
2019-12-11AE92207ND