Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Redhill Water Association

NOTE: Redhill Water Association purchases water from Alma Waterworks which is required to test for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (dbcp). Sample information shown below was taken by Alma Waterworks.

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.

 

17

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND10ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND20ND

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

NOTE: Redhill Water Association purchases water from Alma Waterworks which is required to test for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (dbcp). Sample information shown below was taken by Alma Waterworks.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-0118004012709ND
2018-01-1518019000303ND
2018-04-0418095010002ND
2019-02-0519038001501ND
2020-01-0720009017401ND
2020-04-1320107011508ND
2020-04-1320107011502ND
2020-07-0820191012403ND
2020-07-0820191012409ND
2020-11-0220310000703ND
2020-11-0220310000709ND
2021-01-1921021001902ND
2021-01-1921021001907ND
2021-04-0621098014201ND
2022-04-04O196531-VOC-1ND
2023-04-10O207795-EDB-1ND
2023-07-04O210125-EDB-1ND