2,4-D
Status: National drinking water standard exists
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.
2017-2019:
33
states detected
298
utilities detected
16 million
people served
0
states over health guideline
0
utilities over health guideline
0
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for 2,4-D
Hormone disruption
Harm to the liver
Harm to the kidney
Harm to the thyroid
Harm to the brain and nervous system
Change to immune system function
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
States reporting 2,4-D in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | 2,483,199 | |
| Texas | 28 | 2,239,945 | |
| Nevada | 6 | 1,888,576 | |
| Colorado | 40 | 1,833,612 | |
| Missouri | 15 | 1,335,691 | |
| Indiana | 10 | 1,137,420 | |
| Tennessee | 14 | 969,902 | |
| Kentucky | 11 | 866,436 | |
| Virginia | 7 | 750,911 | |
| Arizona | 8 | 682,778 | |
| Florida | 25 | 480,965 | |
| Oregon | 2 | 194,215 | |
| Oklahoma | 15 | 166,294 | |
| Louisiana | 8 | 137,446 | |
| Iowa | 18 | 102,576 | |
| New York | 31 | 100,492 | |
| Massachusetts | 4 | 75,636 | |
| West Virginia | 10 | 67,876 | |
| South Carolina | 3 | 61,705 | |
| Alabama | 5 | 52,499 | |
| Arkansas | 4 | 51,576 | |
| Hawaii | 1 | 34,854 | |
| Minnesota | 2 | 31,166 | |
| North Carolina | 2 | 29,151 | |
| Illinois | 6 | 12,067 | |
| Delaware | 1 | 7,500 | |
| Maryland | 1 | 7,100 | |
| Connecticut | 1 | 6,840 | |
| North Dakota | 2 | 1,976 | |
| Washington | 4 | 626 | |
| New Mexico | 1 | 200 | |
| Nebraska | 1 | 95 | |
| Idaho | 1 | 50 | |
Filtering technologies that reduce 2,4-D
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of 2,4-D, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woods Hoa, The | Martinsburg, WV | 1 of 3 | 2.87 ppb | 1,550 |
| Elk Creek, Village of | Elk Creek, NE | 2 of 2 | 2.40 ppb | 95 |
| Sidney City PWS | Sidney, OH | 1 of 6 | 1.35 ppb | 21,229 |
| Live Oak WTP | Live Oak, FL | 1 of 8 | 0.969 ppb | 6,850 |
| Valley Water and Sewer-deerwood | Kearneysville, WV | 1 of 2 | 0.915 ppb | 219 |
| Coulterville | Coulterville, IL | 2 of 11 | 0.591 ppb | 985 |
| St Charles Co. PWSD #2 Wright City | Wright City, MO | 1 of 5 | 0.496 ppb | 3,550 |
| Laharpe | Laharpe, IL | 1 of 12 | 0.467 ppb | 1,235 |
| Oak Meadows Subdivision Water System | Lake Charles, LA | 4 of 10 | 0.440 ppb | 318 |
| Texas Water Supply | Livingston, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.400 ppb | 174 |
| Smith Mobile Home Village Water System | Newark, LA | 4 of 12 | 0.367 ppb | 200 |
| Thomas City Of | Thomas, WV | 1 of 3 | 0.363 ppb | 725 |
| City of Martinsburg* | Martinsburg, WV | 1 of 8 | 0.350 ppb | 15,652 |
| Toledo Village Water Supply Corporation | Jasper, TX | 3 of 8 | 0.325 ppb | 1,624 |
| Hoyleton-new Minden* | Hoyleton, IL | 1 of 9 | 0.322 ppb | 48 |
| Nashville* | Nashville, IL | 1 of 9 | 0.322 ppb | 4,068 |
| Peak View Ranch | Apache Junction, AZ | 1 of 1 | 0.320 ppb | 232 |
| Beardsley Water Company 1 | Phoenix, AZ | 2 of 2 | 0.320 ppb | 1,471 |
| Taylor Coastal Water & Sewer District | Perry, FL | 1 of 7 | 0.284 ppb | 1,303 |
| Water Unlimited, Incorporated* | Newcastle, WY | 1 of 4 | 0.275 ppb | 80 |
| North Castle Water District #7 | Armonk, NY | 1 of 11 | 0.275 ppb | 100 |
| North Castle Water District #4* | Armonk, NY | 1 of 11 | 0.275 ppb | 2,525 |
| North Castle Water District #5 | Armonk, NY | 1 of 11 | 0.275 ppb | 225 |
| Village of Calvin Water System | Calvin, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.273 ppb | 591 |
| Clear Creek Forest Section 12 | Austin, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.250 ppb | 1,779 |
| Frostproof, City of | Frostproof, FL | 2 of 12 | 0.250 ppb | 3,550 |
| Breezy Hill WD | Graniteville, SC | 3 of 39 | 0.244 ppb | 15,282 |
| Northwest Freeway Municipal Utility District | Houston, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.238 ppb | 3,558 |
| Chain Ridge Subdivision | Solon, IA | 1 of 3 | 0.233 ppb | 25 |
| Aqua Pa Oakhill | White Haven, PA | 1 of 8 | 0.225 ppb | 486 |
| Southshore Water | Meridian, ID | 1 of 4 | 0.215 ppb | 30 |
| Evansville | Evansville, IL | 1 of 7 | 0.171 ppb | 700 |
| Pomfret Berry Road Water District | Fredonia, NY | 1 of 4 | 0.168 ppb | 160 |
| Essex Water District | Essex, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.168 ppb | 350 |
| Pomfret Chestnut Road Water District | Fredonia, NY | 1 of 4 | 0.168 ppb | 64 |
| Pomfret North End Water District | Fredonia, NY | 1 of 4 | 0.168 ppb | 360 |
| Fredonia Village* | Fredonia, NY | 1 of 4 | 0.168 ppb | 10,984 |
| Far Horizons Subdivision | Swisher, IA | 1 of 5 | 0.160 ppb | 80 |
| Pinewood Springs Water District | Lyons, CO | 2 of 17 | 0.159 ppb | 745 |
| Elbert Creek Water Co. | Durango, CO | 1 of 2 | 0.150 ppb | 525 |
| Lafourche Water District 1 | Lockport, LA | 10 of 46 | 0.149 ppb | 78,760 |
| Langdon, City of | Langdon, ND | 2 of 3 | 0.142 ppb | 1,878 |
| Apple Creek Water Co-op | Waverly, IL | 1 of 12 | 0.142 ppb | 949 |
| Waverly* | Waverly, IL | 1 of 12 | 0.142 ppb | 1,307 |
| Lenzburg | Belleville, IL | 1 of 10 | 0.140 ppb | 620 |
| Kaskaskia Water District* | New Athens, IL | 1 of 10 | 0.140 ppb | 1 |
| Marissa | Freeburg, IL | 1 of 10 | 0.140 ppb | 2,200 |
| New Athens | New Athens, IL | 1 of 10 | 0.140 ppb | 2,225 |
| Tilden | Tilden, IL | 1 of 10 | 0.140 ppb | 934 |
| Greenfield | Greenfield, IL | 1 of 8 | 0.138 ppb | 1,200 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report 2,4-D, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney City PWS | Sidney, OH | 1 of 6 | 1.35 ppb | 21,229 |
| City of Martinsburg* | Martinsburg, WV | 1 of 8 | 0.350 ppb | 15,652 |
| Breezy Hill WD | Graniteville, SC | 3 of 39 | 0.244 ppb | 15,282 |
| Fredonia Village* | Fredonia, NY | 1 of 4 | 0.168 ppb | 10,984 |
| Lafourche Water District 1 | Lockport, LA | 10 of 46 | 0.149 ppb | 78,760 |
| Spring Hill Water Department* | Spring Hill, TN | 1 of 3 | 0.133 ppb | 45,130 |
| Roseville | Roseville, MN | 2 of 5 | 0.120 ppb | 36,314 |
| Saint Paul Regional Water Services* | St. Paul, MN | 2 of 5 | 0.120 ppb | 395,131 |
| City of Cullman Water Works* | Cullman, AL | 2 of 4 | 0.1000 ppb | 35,922 |
| Rockwood Water System* | Rockwood, TN | 1 of 2 | 0.1000 ppb | 11,594 |
| City of Friendswood | Friendswood, TX | 2 of 10 | 0.1000 ppb | 37,921 |
| New Haven Water Department | New Haven, IN | 6 of 25 | 0.0840 ppb | 15,700 |
| Fort Wayne - 3 Rivers Filtration Plant* | Fort Wayne, IN | 6 of 25 | 0.0840 ppb | 266,000 |
| Bedford City Utilities* | Bedford, IN | 1 of 4 | 0.0750 ppb | 14,000 |
| Central | Winter Haven, FL | 1 of 20 | 0.0750 ppb | 13,595 |
| Holyoke Water Works | Holyoke, MA | 1 of 6 | 0.0732 ppb | 40,124 |
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 2 of 23 | 0.0731 ppb | 127,700 |
| Port Washington WD | Port Washington, NY | 1 of 36 | 0.0722 ppb | 34,000 |
| Portland Water System | Portland, TN | 2 of 7 | 0.0714 ppb | 21,516 |
| Holliston Water Department | Holliston, MA | 4 of 22 | 0.0670 ppb | 14,946 |
| Indiana American Water - Muncie | Greenwood, IN | 2 of 3 | 0.0667 ppb | 65,618 |
| City of Port St. Joe | Port St. Joe, FL | 3 of 9 | 0.0656 ppb | 13,836 |
| Elk River | Elk River, MN | 1 of 4 | 0.0625 ppb | 16,914 |
| Cleveland Utilities* | Cleveland, TN | 1 of 8 | 0.0625 ppb | 87,960 |
| Citizens Water - Indianapolis* | Indianapolis, IN | 9 of 76 | 0.0583 ppb | 825,173 |
| Tri-County Water Distbr District* | Russelville, AR | 1 of 8 | 0.0538 ppb | 16,671 |
| City of Taylor* | Taylor, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.0500 ppb | 18,252 |
| Consolidated Mutual Maple Grove* | Lakewood, CO | 1 of 4 | 0.0473 ppb | 24,135 |
| Aqua Pennsylvania Main System* | Bryn Mawr, PA | 1 of 32 | 0.0469 ppb | 747,460 |
| Philadelphia Water Department* | Philadelphia, PA | 2 of 28 | 0.0464 ppb | 1,600,000 |
| Clinton, City of* | Clinton, SC | 2 of 14 | 0.0443 ppb | 10,109 |
| Missouri American Jefferson City District | Jefferson City, MO | 3 of 12 | 0.0417 ppb | 27,117 |
| Texarkana Water Utilities* | Texarkana, AR | 1 of 7 | 0.0414 ppb | 30,015 |
| Thibodaux Waterworks | Thibodaux, LA | 2 of 22 | 0.0409 ppb | 15,810 |
| Chester Metro* | Chester, SC | 1 of 18 | 0.0394 ppb | 12,719 |
| Amsterdam* | Amsterdam, NY | 1 of 6 | 0.0393 ppb | 22,132 |
| City of Cleburne | Cleburne, TX | 3 of 26 | 0.0380 ppb | 30,573 |
| Johnstown Water Works* | Johnstown, NY | 1 of 10 | 0.0353 ppb | 10,851 |
| Jefferson County PWSD 3* | Arnold, MO | 11 of 65 | 0.0338 ppb | 17,000 |
| Missouri American St. Louis County & St. Charles County* | Chesterfield, MO | 11 of 65 | 0.0338 ppb | 1,100,000 |
| Jefferson County PWSD1* | Arnold, MO | 11 of 65 | 0.0338 ppb | 20,000 |
| Kirkwood | Kirkwood, MO | 11 of 65 | 0.0338 ppb | 28,000 |
| Jefferson County PWSD 10 | Arnonld, MO | 11 of 65 | 0.0338 ppb | 10,000 |
| Jefferson County Cons. PWSD C 1* | Barnhart, MO | 11 of 65 | 0.0338 ppb | 35,000 |
| Murphysboro* | Murphysboro, IL | 3 of 15 | 0.0333 ppb | 10,941 |
| Winchester Water System | Winchester, TN | 1 of 9 | 0.0333 ppb | 20,180 |
| Evansville Water Utility* | Evansville, IN | 3 of 23 | 0.0304 ppb | 173,000 |
| German Township Water District Inc.* | Evansville, IN | 3 of 23 | 0.0304 ppb | 12,110 |
| Glens Falls City | Glens Falls, NY | 1 of 13 | 0.0292 ppb | 14,000 |
| Hardin County Water District #2 | Elizabethtown, KY | 1 of 7 | 0.0286 ppb | 76,326 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report 2,4-D, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.