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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Enterprise Water Works

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.

 

68

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.0636 ppb111ND - 0.700 ppb
2015ND160ND
2016ND100ND
2017ND150ND
2018ND160ND
2019N/A00N/A

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
2014-03-121403-00284-10ND
2014-03-121403-00284-11ND
2014-06-251406-00311-7ND
2014-06-251406-00311-5ND
2014-06-251406-00311-3ND
2014-06-251406-00311-9ND
2014-08-191408-00277-40.700 ppb
2014-08-191408-00277-3ND
2014-08-191408-00277-2ND
2014-08-191408-00277-5ND
2014-08-191408-00277-6ND
2015-02-171502-00240-4ND
2015-02-171502-00240-6ND
2015-02-171502-00240-3ND
2015-02-171502-00240-2ND
2015-02-171502-00240-1ND
2015-06-151506-00228-3SND
2015-06-151506-00228-3ND
2015-06-151506-00228-2ND
2015-06-151506-00228-1SND
2015-06-151506-00228-1ND
2015-06-151506-00228-2SND
2015-09-141509-00177-1ND
2015-11-041511-00076-2ND
2015-11-041511-00076-3ND
2015-11-041511-00076-4ND
2015-11-041511-00076-1ND
2016-03-161603-00261-3SND
2016-03-161603-00261-2SND
2016-03-161603-00261-1SND
2016-09-131609-00214-12ND
2016-09-131609-00214-9ND
2016-10-181610-00215-1SND
2016-12-061612-00141-33ND
2016-12-061612-00141-22ND
2016-12-061612-00141-26ND
2016-12-061612-00141-29ND
2017-02-281703-0015-008`ND
2017-02-281703-0015-006ND
2017-03-211703-00293-4ND
2017-06-221706-00372-8ND
2017-06-221706-00372-3ND
2017-06-221706-00372-1ND
2017-06-221706-00372-5ND
2017-06-261706-00408-1ND
2017-09-191709-00306-6ND
2017-09-191709-00306-3ND
2017-09-191709-00306-2ND
2017-09-191709-00306-1ND
2017-09-191709-00306-5ND
2017-09-191709-00306-4ND
2017-10-311711-00018-3ND
2018-03-141803-00266-31ND
2018-03-141803-00266-34ND
2018-03-141803-00266-33ND
2018-03-141803-00266-32ND
2018-03-141803-00266-002ND
2018-06-121806-00190-002ND
2018-06-121806-00190-003ND
2018-09-051809-00070-007ND
2018-09-051809-00070-003ND
2018-09-051809-00070-002ND
2018-09-051809-00070-006ND
2018-09-051809-00070-009ND
2018-11-271811-00495-010ND
2018-11-271811-00495-004ND
2018-11-271811-00495-001ND
2018-11-271811-00495-007ND