Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Easton Estates Water Company

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.

 

9

Samples

1

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

8

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.0430 ppb220.0230 ppb - 0.0630 ppb
2019N/A00N/A
20200.00550 ppb21ND - 0.0110 ppb
20210.407 ppb220.0430 ppb - 0.770 ppb
20220.0433 ppb330.0280 ppb - 0.0540 ppb
2023N/A00N/A

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
2018-10-04CA1000018_001_001-2018100408460.0630 ppb
2018-10-04CA1000018_023_023-2018100410100.0230 ppb
2020-02-27CA1000018_001_001-202002270805ND
2020-02-27CA1000018_023_023-2020022709150.0110 ppb
2021-04-28CA1000018_001_001-2021042808550.770 ppb
2021-04-28CA1000018_023_023-2021042809400.0430 ppb
2022-12-14CA1000018_023_023-2022121408450.0540 ppb
2022-12-19CA1000018_001_001-2022121908000.0280 ppb
2022-12-19CA1000018_023_023-2022121908400.0480 ppb