Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Bladen County Water Dist-West Bladen

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.

 

31

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND110ND
2015ND70ND
2016ND10ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND10ND

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
2014-01-028527-010214-E05SND
2014-01-028527-010214-E04SND
2014-04-028527-040214-E11SND
2014-05-078527-050714-E04SND
2014-05-078527-050714-E05SND
2014-07-028527-070214-E11SND
2014-07-028527-070214-L06SND
2014-09-038527-090314-E08SND
2014-10-018527-100114-E08SND
2014-10-018527-100114-L06SND
2014-12-038527-120314-E05SND
2015-01-21ND
2015-01-21ND
2015-02-04ND
2015-04-01ND
2015-05-06ND
2015-08-05ND
2015-10-01ND
2016-02-038527-020316-E05SND
2017-01-048527-010417-E04SND
2017-02-018527-020117-E05SND
2017-04-058527-040517-E11SND
2017-07-058527-070517-E11SND
2017-07-058527-070517-L06SND
2017-09-058527-090517-E08SND
2017-11-148527-111417-E08SND
2017-11-148527-111417-L06SND
2018-01-038527-010318-E09SND
2018-02-078527-020718-E05SND
2018-04-108527-041018-E09SND
2019-02-068527-020619-E05SND