Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)

Brent Utilities Board

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane is a pesticide fumigant banned in the 1970s after scientists discovered it caused sterility in men who worked with it. The chemical causes cancer in laboratory animals and may cause cancer in people. Read More.

This pesticide breaks down very slowly in the environment. It remains in groundwater and drinking water wells in the agricultural areas where it was sprayed in the past. Men exposed to this pesticide in the fields suffered from infertility and testicular damage, and tended to have fewer male babies.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A
2020ND60ND
2021N/A00N/A
2022N/A00N/A
2023ND60ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.0017 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.0017 ppb for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane 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 cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 0.2 ppb

The legal limit for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, established in 1991, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2020-03-0420145681001_ISOCND
2020-03-0420145681002_ISOCND
2020-03-0420145681003_ISOCND
2020-05-1920155140001_ISOCND
2020-05-1920155140002_ISOCND
2020-05-1920155140003_ISOCND
2023-01-2435774469001_ISOCND
2023-01-2435774469002_ISOCND
2023-01-2435774469003_ISOCND
2023-05-1935800885001_ISOCND
2023-05-1935800885002_ISOCND
2023-05-1935800885003_ISOCND