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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Del City

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

 

56

Samples

2

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017N/A00N/A
20181.08 ppb376ND - 23.0 ppb
2019ND190ND

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
2018-02-27388163023.0 ppb
2018-02-273881621ND
2018-02-273881612ND
2018-03-073886273ND
2018-03-0738862641.000 ppb
2018-03-0838870940.700 ppb
2018-03-083887085ND
2018-03-153892189ND
2018-03-153892180ND
2018-03-2939003421.30 ppb
2018-04-263922016ND
2018-05-03392786811.0 ppb
2018-05-033927859ND
2018-05-313950124ND
2018-05-313950114ND
2018-06-063955061ND
2018-06-063954662ND
2018-06-213969635ND
2018-06-213969626ND
2018-08-284039476ND
2018-08-284039423ND
2018-08-2840393932.90 ppb
2018-08-304042701ND
2018-08-304042692ND
2018-08-304042675ND
2018-09-054047098ND
2018-09-054047466ND
2018-09-054047107ND
2018-10-254102022ND
2018-10-254102014ND
2018-10-254102004ND
2018-10-254101968ND
2018-11-014108726ND
2018-11-014108718ND
2018-11-014108710ND
2018-11-074115032ND
2018-11-074115024ND
2019-04-184266171ND
2019-05-014280238ND
2019-05-014280250ND
2019-05-014280264ND
2019-05-014280276ND
2019-05-084288067ND
2019-05-084288058ND
2019-05-084287883ND
2019-05-084287790ND
2019-06-054315241ND
2019-12-164516144ND
2019-12-164516135ND
2019-12-164516126ND
2019-12-164516117ND
2019-12-174517983ND
2019-12-174517934ND
2019-12-174517925ND
2019-12-174517904ND
2019-12-194521463ND