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Description

A selective, systemic herbicide in the chlorophenoxy family, 2,4-D is widely used by homeowners, lawn care professionals and farmers to kill unwanted broadleaf (non-grassy) plants. 2,4-D is applied to grassy crops such as wheat, home and public lawns and gardens, and on roadsides, golf courses, forests and waterways.

Health Effects

Immediate Health Effects

If SWALLOWED, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid is Highly Toxic
If ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid is Highly Toxic
If INHALED (SNIFFED OR BREATHED IN), (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid is Not Available

Longterm or Delayed Health Effects

Neurotoxin = Can harm brain and central nervous system
Suspected Endocrine Disruptor = May interfere with, mimic or block hormones
Development Toxicant = Can interfere with normal development of a fetus or child

Other

Some formulations cause severe skin and severe eye irritation. Some 2,4-D formulations can cause irreversible eye damage as the result of direct contact.
Nose, throat and lung irritation, including coughing and shortness of breath.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, headache, fatigue, dizziness, hypertension, slowed heart rate, muscle weakness, incoordination, sweating, and at high doses, death.
Liver, kidney, digestive, muscular, or nervous system damage and chloracne may result from high-dose or long-term exposure.
Possible association with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in farm or forestry workers exposed through their work. The World Health Organization considers chlorophenoxy herbicides, including 2,4-D, to be possible human carcinogens. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said 2,4-D’s carcinogenicity is not classifiable, however.

How Exposures Occur

Absorption Through the Skin

Children exposed to 2,4-D through the skin by touching soil or vegetation that has recently been treated with 2,4-D.

From Food and Water

2,4-D residues have been detected on potatoes, oranges, grapefruit, apples, peaches, peas, and grapes. 2,4-D is also widely used on wheat. 2,4-D has been found in some groundwater supplies, and as a result could reach some drinking water.

Inhalation

Children can inhale 2,4-D during spraying or when spray drifts from neighboring lawns or farms. They can also inhale the residues tracked onto carpets and floors from outdoors.

Mouth Behaviors

Children may put contaminated objects in their mouths, or they may touch the residues with fingers, which go into mouths and around eyes.

Occupational

Children of farm workers and pesticide applicators are exposed to higher amounts of 2,4-D and other pesticides, which can enter the home on clothing, shoes and other items.

Significant Statistics

2,4-D is the most widely used herbicide in the world.

National Pesticide Telecommunications Network Fact Sheet: 2,4-D. National Pesticide Information Center, March 1999.
http://ace.orst.edu/info/nptn/factsheets/2_4-D.pdf

In the U.S., 2,4-D is the most widely used pesticide by homeowners and lawn care professionals and the sixth most common pesticide in agriculture.

1998-1999 Pesticide Market Estimates. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, August 2002.http://www.epa.gov/oppbead1/pestsales/99pestsales/table_of_contents1999.html

2,663 cases of poisonings from 2,4-D or its chemical relative 2,4,5-T were reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers in 1998.

American Association of Poison Control Centers 1998 Annual Report. American Association of Poison Control Centers, 1998.http://www.aapcc.org

At least 41 million pounds of 2,4-D are used every year in the U.S.

2,4-D Preliminary Risk Assessments - Questions and Answers. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June 23, 2004.http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/24d/2_4d_ques_and_anws.htm#1

Solutions

How to detect (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid

Approximately 700 products containing 2,4-D are registered with the U.S. EPA for general use. Read labels and ask lawn care professionals what they plan on using in and around your home. You can also find out if 2,4-D is an ingredient in a pesticide product in Pesticide Action Network Pesticides Database. Or, search for 2,4-D in the National Library of Medicine’s Household Products Database to find a list of brands that contain it.
2,4-D is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires that community water systems monitor 2,4-D levels, and inform the public when levels exceed the set Maximum Contamination Level (MCL). The MCL for 2,4-D is 70 parts per billion.

Community water systems are required to produce annual consumer confidence reports and mail them to every water customer. See Safe Drinking Water: What’s a Consumer Confidence Report for more information.

If your water source is a well, your water is not monitored for contaminants as is required for public water supplies by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Private testing of the water is necessary.

Even if your water comes from a community water system, contaminant levels can vary from house to house. You can have your water tested by sending samples to a certified laboratory. For more information on how to test your water, see Safe Drinking Water: Testing Your Water.

You can search for water quality reports from your water provider, obtain information on well water testing and find a list of state-certified drinking water laboratories at the U.S. EPA’s Office of Water’s website or call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 800-426-4791.
Food: There is no way for parents to determine exactly how much 2,4-D may be in their children’s food. You can get a rough idea of the fruits and vegetables that may contain 2,4-D from:

The Environmental Working Group’s Report Card: Pesticides in Produce

Do You Know What You’re Eating? by Consumers Union

Consumers Union’s Update on Pesticides in Children’s Food

How to minimize exposure to (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid

Avoid the use of pesticides whenever possible, especially near children.
Contact your local sanitation department or hazardous waste disposal program to find out how to dispose of pesticides properly. Earth 911 lists hazardous waste disposal sites by zip code.
If testing of your water reveals high levels of 2,4-D, you can filter your tap water.

Alternatives

Adopt Integrated Pest Management, instead of resorting to herbicides for weed removal. For information on IPM, see Pest Control without Pesticides.

Remove garden weeds by hand; mulch the soil around garden plants to prevent weeds from sprouting. Diversify landscaping to reduce turf grass. See also How to Kill Weeds Without Herbicides.
Maintaining a healthy lawn is your best defense against weedy invaders. For more information about how to accomplish this, consult the resources below.
Buy certified organic foods, which are grown without synthetic pesticides, when you can. See 10 Fruits and Vegetables to Buy Organic.

Otherwise, wash fruits and vegetables well and peel them.
Use a doormat to wipe feet or take shoes off at the door to prevent pesticides from being tracked indoors. Replace carpets with washable rugs and mop floors frequently to remove any residues.