Basic Information about Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate in Drinking Water

• Drinking Water Contaminants Home
• Basic Information about Drinking Water Contaminants

EPA regulates di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate in drinking water to protect public health. Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate may cause health problems if present in public or private water supplies in amounts greater than the drinking water standard set by EPA.

• What is di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate?
• Uses for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate.
• What are di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate's health effects?
• What are EPA's drinking water regulations for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate?
• How does di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate get into my drinking water?
• How will I know if di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate is in my drinking water?
• How will di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate be removed from my drinking water?
• How do I learn more about my drinking water?

What is di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate?
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate is a light-colored, oily liquid with an aromatic odor.

Uses for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate.
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate is used in making plastics. It is also used as a solvent; in aircraft lubricants; as a hydraulic fluid; as a plasticizer or solvent in the following cosmetics: bath oils, eye shadow, cologne, foundations, rouge, blusher, nail polish remover, moisturizers and indoor tanning preparations; in meat wrapping operations.

If you are concerned about di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate in a private well, please visit:

• EPA's private drinking water wells Web site
• Water Systems Council Web site

What are di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate's health effects?
Some people who drink water containing di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate well in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for many years could experience toxic effects such as weight loss, liver enlargement, or possible reproductive difficulties.

This health effects language is not intended to catalog all possible health effects for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate. Rather, it is intended to inform consumers of some of the possible health effects associated with di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate in drinking water when the rule was finalized.

Top of page

What are EPA's drinking water regulations for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate?
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA to determine the level of contaminants in drinking water at which no adverse health effects are likely to occur. These non-enforceable health goals, based solely on possible health risks and exposure over a lifetime with an adequate margin of safety, are called maximum contaminant level goals (MCLG). Contaminants are any physical, chemical, biological or radiological substances or matter in water.

The MCLG for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate is 0.4 mg/L or 400 ppb. EPA has set this level of protection based on the best available science to prevent potential health problems. EPA has set an enforceable regulation for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, called a maximum contaminant level (MCL), at 0.4 mg/L or 400 ppb. MCLs are set as close to the health goals as possible, considering cost, benefits and the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies. In this case, the MCL equals the MCLG, because analytical methods or treatment technology do not pose any limitation.

The Phase V Rule, the regulation for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, became effective in 1994. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to periodically review the national primary drinking water regulation for each contaminant and revise the regulation, if appropriate. EPA reviewed di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate as part of the Six Year Review and determined that the 0.4 mg/L or 400 ppb MCLG and 0.4 mg/L or 400 ppb MCL for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate are still protective of human health.

• More information on the Six Year Review of Drinking Water Standards.

States may set more stringent drinking water MCLGs and MCLs for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate than EPA.

Top of page

How does di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate get into my drinking water?
The major source of di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate in drinking water is discharge from chemical factories.

A federal law called the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) requires facilities in certain industries, which manufacture, process, or use significant amounts of toxic chemicals, to report annually on their releases of these chemicals. For more information on the uses and releases of chemicals in your state, contact the Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 424-9346.

• EPA's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Web site provides information about the types and amounts of toxic chemicals that are released each year to the air, water, and land.

Top of page

How will I know if di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate is in my drinking water?
When routine monitoring indicates that di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate levels are above the MCL, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate so that it is below that level. Water suppliers must notify their customers as soon as practical, but no later than 30 days after the system learns of the violation. Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health.

• See EPA's public notification requirements for public water systems.

If your water comes from a household well, check with your health department or local water systems that use ground water for information on contaminants of concern in your area.

• For more information on wells, go to EPA's Web site on private wells.

Top of page

How will di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate be removed from my drinking water?
The following treatment method(s) have proven to be effective for removing di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate to below 0.4 mg/L or 400 ppb: granular activated carbon.

Top of page

How do I learn more about my drinking water?
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more about their drinking water, and to support local efforts to protect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking water. Your water bill or telephone book's government listings are a good starting point for local information.

Contact your water utility. EPA requires all community water systems to prepare and deliver an annual consumer confidence report (CCR) (sometimes called a water quality report) for their customers by July 1 of each year. If your water provider is not a community water system, or if you have a private water supply, request a copy from a nearby community water system.

• The CCR summarizes information regarding sources used (i.e., rivers, lakes, reservoirs, or aquifers), any detected contaminants, compliance and educational information.
• Some water suppliers have posted their annual reports on EPA's Web site.

Other EPA Web sites

• Find an answer or ask a question about drinking water contaminants on EPA's Question and Answer Web site or call EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791
• EPA's Integrated Risk Information System
• EPA's Substance Registry System

Top of page