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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,4-D

Lehi City

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.

 

45

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
2014ND50ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND60ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND100ND

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 Result
2014-01-27ND
2014-03-11ND
2014-06-04ND
2014-08-21ND
2014-10-27ND
2015-03-05ND
2015-03-24ND
2015-06-08ND
2015-07-23ND
2015-07-23ND
2015-09-24ND
2015-10-29ND
2015-10-29ND
2015-10-29ND
2015-10-29ND
2015-10-29ND
2015-12-15ND
2016-01-28ND
2016-03-30ND
2016-03-30ND
2016-03-30ND
2016-05-31ND
2016-06-06ND
2016-08-11ND
2016-08-11ND
2016-09-01ND
2016-11-17ND
2016-11-17ND
2016-11-17ND
2017-01-12ND
2017-01-12ND
2017-04-13ND
2017-07-10ND
2017-07-10ND
2017-10-12ND
2019-08-26ND
2019-08-26ND
2019-08-26ND
2019-08-26ND
2019-08-26ND
2019-10-28ND
2019-10-28ND
2019-10-28ND
2019-10-28ND
2019-10-28ND