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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

City of Cleburne

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.

 

37

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
20150.200 ppb113ND - 1.10 ppb
2016ND60ND
20170.517 ppb62ND - 2.40 ppb
2018ND70ND
2019ND30ND

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
2014-02-20Q1405678001ND
2014-06-10Q1420248006ND
2014-06-10Q1420248005ND
2014-07-23Q1430514014ND
2015-01-28Q15033130320.600 ppb
2015-01-28Q1503313030ND
2015-01-28Q15033130310.500 ppb
2015-01-28Q1503313033ND
2015-01-28Q1503313034ND
2015-01-28Q1503313035ND
2015-01-28Q1503313039ND
2015-04-22Q1515060009ND
2015-04-22Q15150600081.10 ppb
2015-08-04Q1530229005ND
2015-09-03Q1534241001ND
2016-01-19Q1602147006ND
2016-04-11Q1614379016ND
2016-04-11Q1614379003ND
2016-11-14Q1649063011ND
2016-11-14Q1649063010ND
2016-11-14Q1649063009ND
2017-01-26Q1703681001ND
2017-04-18Q1715803004ND
2017-04-18Q17158030032.40 ppb
2017-05-24Q17214230010.700 ppb
2017-10-11Q1752040007ND
2017-10-11Q1752040006ND
2018-01-11Q1801664007ND
2018-01-11Q1801664005ND
2018-01-11Q1801664006ND
2018-04-10Q1814945014ND
2018-04-10Q1814945002ND
2018-04-10Q1814945013ND
2018-04-10Q1814945001ND
2019-01-29Q1904159002ND
2019-01-29Q1904159003ND
2019-01-29Q1904159021ND