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

California Water Service (CWS) - Selma

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

193

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

119

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.0522 ppb	30	26	ND - 0.130 ppb
2015	0.0471 ppb	28	23	ND - 0.140 ppb
2016	0.0392 ppb	24	18	ND - 0.140 ppb
2017	0.0180 ppb	46	21	ND - 0.1000 ppb
2018	0.0101 ppb	53	19	ND - 0.0380 ppb
2019	0.0282 ppb	12	12	0.0150 ppb - 0.0440 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-01-07	5810-014-1020	0.0610 ppb
2014-01-14	5810-001-1136	0.0920 ppb
2014-01-14	5810-005-1117	0.130 ppb
2014-01-14	5810-010-1057	ND
2014-02-05	5810-013-1505	0.0320 ppb
2014-02-05	5810-014-1232	0.0520 ppb
2014-02-05	5810-018-1142	0.0430 ppb
2014-03-11	5701-014-0919	0.0500 ppb
2014-03-25	5701-021-1051	0.0500 ppb
2014-03-25	5701-038-0957	ND
2014-05-20	5701-013-1136	0.0400 ppb
2014-05-20	5701-014-1147	0.0500 ppb
2014-05-20	5701-018-1042	0.0400 ppb
2014-05-27	5701-001-1204	0.0700 ppb
2014-05-27	5701-005-1156	0.120 ppb
2014-06-17	5701-021-1035	0.0400 ppb
2014-07-22	5701-001-1015	0.0600 ppb
2014-07-22	5701-005-0949	0.110 ppb
2014-07-22	5701-010-0934	ND
2014-08-26	5701-013-1113	0.0400 ppb
2014-08-26	5701-014-1102	0.0500 ppb
2014-08-26	5701-018-1038	0.0400 ppb
2014-09-23	9590-021-1027	0.0470 ppb
2014-10-07	9590-001-0956	0.0640 ppb
2014-10-07	9590-005-0939	0.120 ppb
2014-10-07	9590-010-1221	ND
2014-11-19	9590-013-1040	0.0420 ppb
2014-11-19	9590-014-1023	0.0510 ppb
2014-11-19	9590-018-1100	0.0420 ppb
2014-12-11	5701-021-1110	0.0300 ppb
2015-01-13	5701-001-0931	0.0600 ppb
2015-01-13	5701-005-0949	0.140 ppb
2015-01-13	5701-010-1005	ND
2015-02-19	5701-013-1132	0.0400 ppb
2015-02-19	5701-014-1027	0.0400 ppb
2015-02-19	5701-018-1001	0.0400 ppb
2015-03-03	5701-021-1505	0.0500 ppb
2015-04-21	5701-001-1136	0.0500 ppb
2015-04-21	5701-005-1123	0.120 ppb
2015-04-21	5701-010-1110	ND
2015-05-19	5701-014-1113	0.0400 ppb
2015-05-19	5701-018-1040	0.0300 ppb
2015-06-16	5701-021-0951	0.0500 ppb
2015-07-14	5701-001-1101	0.0400 ppb
2015-07-14	5701-005-1113	0.110 ppb
2015-07-14	5701-010-1130	ND
2015-08-05	5701-013-1138	0.0300 ppb
2015-08-05	5701-014-1123	0.0400 ppb
2015-08-05	5701-018-1056	0.0300 ppb
2015-09-01	5701-021-0958	0.0600 ppb
2015-10-07	5701-001-1115	0.0400 ppb
2015-10-07	5701-004-1133	ND
2015-10-07	5701-005-1100	0.130 ppb
2015-10-07	5701-010-1044	ND
2015-11-09	5701-013-1114	0.0400 ppb
2015-11-09	5701-014-1053	0.0400 ppb
2015-11-09	5701-018-1030	0.0500 ppb
2015-11-30	5701-021-1130	0.0500 ppb
2016-01-06	5701-001-1031	0.0300 ppb
2016-01-06	5701-005-0938	0.130 ppb
2016-01-06	5701-010-1015	ND
2016-02-23	5701-013-1108	0.0400 ppb
2016-02-23	5701-014-1056	0.0300 ppb
2016-02-23	5701-018-1035	0.0500 ppb
2016-03-01	5701-021-1003	0.0400 ppb
2016-04-05	5701-001-0941	0.0300 ppb
2016-04-05	5701-005-1038	0.140 ppb
2016-04-05	5701-010-1047	ND
2016-04-05	5701-023-1107	ND
2016-05-03	5701-013-1045	0.0300 ppb
2016-05-03	5701-014-1031	0.0300 ppb
2016-05-03	5701-018-1004	0.0500 ppb
2016-06-07	5701-021-0940	0.0500 ppb
2016-07-12	5701-001-0929	0.0300 ppb
2016-07-12	5701-005-0946	0.120 ppb
2016-07-12	5701-010-0959	ND
2016-07-12	5701-022-1020	ND
2016-08-02	5701-013-1107	0.0300 ppb
2016-08-02	5701-014-1051	0.0300 ppb
2016-08-02	5701-018-1035	0.0400 ppb
2016-09-06	5701-021-0932	0.0400 ppb
2016-09-27	5701-036-1009	ND
2017-01-09	5701-001-0940	0.0200 ppb
2017-01-09	5701-005-0954	0.0900 ppb
2017-01-09	5701-010-1007	ND
2017-02-08	5701-004-1040	ND
2017-02-08	5701-013-1002	0.0300 ppb
2017-02-08	5701-014-1018	0.0200 ppb
2017-02-14	5701-018-1209	0.0400 ppb
2017-02-14	5701-022-1147	ND
2017-02-14	5701-023-1132	ND
2017-02-14	5701-036-1021	ND
2017-02-14	5701-038-1051	ND
2017-03-21	5701-021-1021	0.0300 ppb
2017-04-25	5701-001-1016	0.0300 ppb
2017-04-25	5701-005-1025	0.1000 ppb
2017-04-25	5701-010-1040	ND
2017-05-02	5701-018-1035	0.0300 ppb
2017-05-02	5701-022-1107	ND
2017-05-02	5701-023-1051	ND
2017-05-02	5701-036-1001	ND
2017-05-02	5701-038-1023	ND
2017-05-09	5701-004-1101	ND
2017-05-09	5701-014-1157	0.0300 ppb
2017-05-15	5701-013-1112	0.0300 ppb
2017-06-13	5701-021-1100	0.0300 ppb
2017-07-18	5701-001-1025	0.0400 ppb
2017-07-18	5701-005-1044	0.1000 ppb
2017-07-18	5701-010-1116	ND
2017-08-08	5701-018-1044	0.0300 ppb
2017-08-08	5701-022-1202	ND
2017-08-08	5701-023-1138	ND
2017-08-08	5701-036-1117	ND
2017-08-08	5701-038-1103	ND
2017-08-15	5701-004-0951	ND
2017-08-15	5701-013-1108	0.0300 ppb
2017-08-15	5701-014-1047	0.0300 ppb
2017-09-19	5701-021-1037	0.0300 ppb
2017-10-17	5701-010-0938	ND
2017-12-05	5701-004-1128	ND
2017-12-05	5701-010-1056	ND
2017-12-05	5701-014-1111	0.0300 ppb
2017-12-12	5701-018-1110	0.0300 ppb
2017-12-12	5701-022-1145	ND
2017-12-12	5701-023-1132	ND
2017-12-12	5701-036-1033	ND
2017-12-13	5701-010-1043	ND
2017-12-19	5701-021-1043	0.0300 ppb
2018-01-25	5701-013-1435	0.0300 ppb
2018-01-31	5701-013-1349	0.0300 ppb
2018-01-31	5701-029-1351	ND
2018-02-08	5701-013-1140	0.0200 ppb
2018-02-08	5701-029-1142	ND
2018-02-13	5701-018-1451	0.0300 ppb
2018-02-13	5701-022-1519	ND
2018-02-13	5701-023-1507	ND
2018-02-13	5701-036-1437	ND
2018-02-17	5701-013-1331	0.0200 ppb
2018-02-17	5701-029-1333	ND
2018-02-27	5701-004-1357	ND
2018-02-27	5701-014-1346	ND
2018-02-27	5701-038-1336	ND
2018-03-19	5701-013-1408	0.01000 ppb
2018-03-19	5701-021-1503	0.0300 ppb
2018-03-19	5701-029-1410	ND
2018-04-04	5701-010-1320	ND
2018-04-04	5701-027-1323	ND
2018-04-10	5701-029-1300	ND
2018-05-15	5701-014-1057	0.0300 ppb
2018-05-15	5701-018-1035	0.0300 ppb
2018-05-15	5701-022-1003	ND
2018-05-15	5701-029-1132	ND
2018-05-15	5701-036-1147	ND
2018-05-22	5701-004-1025	ND
2018-05-22	5701-023-1051	ND
2018-05-22	5701-038-1111	ND
2018-05-29	5701-010-1204	ND
2018-05-29	5701-027-1206	ND
2018-06-05	5701-013-1139	0.0300 ppb
2018-06-05	5701-021-1008	0.0300 ppb
2018-06-05	5701-029-1142	ND
2018-07-10	5701-027-1427	ND
2018-08-07	5701-010-1220	ND
2018-08-07	5701-027-1223	ND
2018-08-07	5701-029-1056	ND
2018-08-21	5701-004-1018	ND
2018-08-21	5701-018-1128	0.0300 ppb
2018-08-21	5701-022-1042	ND
2018-08-21	5701-036-1109	ND
2018-08-28	5701-014-1019	0.0300 ppb
2018-08-28	5701-023-0958	ND
2018-08-28	5701-038-1033	ND
2018-09-04	5701-010-1445	ND
2018-09-04	5701-013-1210	0.0300 ppb
2018-09-04	5701-027-1448	ND
2018-09-04	5701-029-1213	ND
2018-09-25	5701-021-1130	0.0300 ppb
2018-11-13	5810-014-1228	0.0230 ppb
2018-11-13	5810-018-1210	0.0360 ppb
2018-12-11	5810-013-1100	0.0260 ppb
2018-12-11	5810-021-1032	0.0380 ppb
2019-04-26	5810-013-1117	0.0260 ppb
2019-04-26	5810-014-1100	0.0270 ppb
2019-04-26	5810-018-1035	0.0440 ppb
2019-04-26	5810-021-0932	0.0420 ppb
2019-10-22	5810-013-1032	0.0220 ppb
2019-10-22	5810-014-1048	0.0150 ppb
2019-10-22	5810-018-1100	0.0300 ppb
2019-10-22	5810-021-1015	0.0320 ppb
2019-12-10	5810-013-1058	0.0200 ppb
2019-12-10	5810-014-1122	0.0220 ppb
2019-12-10	5810-018-1144	0.0290 ppb
2019-12-10	5810-021-1021	0.0290 ppb