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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Bethesda WSC

2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) is a herbicide that can be applied directly to GMO corn and soy plants engineered to withstand this toxic chemical. Americans' exposures to 2,4-D from food and drinking water will likely increase in years to come as farmers plant more of these GMO crops. Read More.

2,4-D is an endocrine disruptor that interferes with thyroid hormones. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies 2,4-D as possibly carcinogenic to humans. In occupational studies, farmers exposed to 2,4-D tended to have higher incidences of damaged and malformed sperm. Laboratory animals exposed to 2,4-D during gestation are born underdeveloped and are more likely to have birth defects.

 

26

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND110ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND40ND
2017ND110ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 20 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 20 ppb for 2,4-D was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against harm to internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 70 ppb

The legal limit for 2,4-D, established in 1991, was based on toxicity studies in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against harm to the nervous system, harm to the thyroid, and hormone disruption.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-06-13Q1421328007ND
2014-06-13Q1421328006ND
2014-10-07Q1451274032ND
2014-10-07Q1451274031ND
2014-10-07Q1451274030ND
2014-10-07Q1451274029ND
2014-10-07Q1451274028ND
2014-10-07Q1451274027ND
2014-10-07Q1451274026ND
2014-10-07Q1451274025ND
2014-10-07Q1451274024ND
2016-11-08Q1648213014ND
2016-11-08Q1648213015ND
2016-11-08Q1648213013ND
2016-11-08Q1648213012ND
2017-01-31Q1704122001ND
2017-01-31Q1704122023ND
2017-10-17Q1753293027ND
2017-10-17Q1753293018ND
2017-10-17Q1753293048ND
2017-10-17Q1753293017ND
2017-10-17Q1753293047ND
2017-10-17Q1753293016ND
2017-11-01Q1756223008ND
2017-11-01Q1756223032ND
2017-11-01Q1756223031ND