Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Sevier County Water Association

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.

 

15

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
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

Date Lab ID Result
2018-05-2118144005701ND
2018-07-2418207002001ND
2019-04-2919122009701ND
2019-08-2819241001401ND
2020-01-2320023011103ND
2020-05-2620149002503ND
2020-05-2620149002509ND
2020-07-2220204001801ND
2020-08-1720233006801ND
2021-04-0621098007201ND
2021-08-0221217000201ND
2022-04-05O196358-VOC-1ND
2022-07-05O199205-VOC-1ND
2023-01-03O204718-EDB-1ND
2023-05-03O208729-EDB-1ND