1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)
City of Lindsay
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.257 ppb | 9 | 8 | ND - 0.330 ppb |
| 2015 | 0.221 ppb | 8 | 8 | 0.200 ppb - 0.250 ppb |
| 2016 | 0.191 ppb | 7 | 7 | 0.150 ppb - 0.250 ppb |
| 2017 | 0.140 ppb | 9 | 8 | ND - 0.200 ppb |
| 2018 | 0.0997 ppb | 7 | 6 | ND - 0.140 ppb |
| 2019 | 0.0930 ppb | 3 | 3 | 0.0690 ppb - 0.120 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 | 5810-014-1202 | 0.280 ppb |
| 2014-02-04 | 5810-014-1430 | 0.310 ppb |
| 2014-04-01 | 5810-014-1109 | 0.270 ppb |
| 2014-05-20 | 5810-014-1344 | 0.280 ppb |
| 2014-07-01 | 5810-014-1118 | 0.300 ppb |
| 2014-08-12 | 5810-014-1244 | 0.330 ppb |
| 2014-10-07 | 5810-014-1202 | 0.280 ppb |
| 2014-11-18 | 5810-015-1159 | ND |
| 2014-11-18 | 5810-014-1210 | 0.260 ppb |
| 2015-01-08 | 5810-014-1134 | 0.250 ppb |
| 2015-02-03 | 5810-014-1135 | 0.230 ppb |
| 2015-04-07 | 5810-014-1340 | 0.240 ppb |
| 2015-05-19 | 5810-014-1358 | 0.210 ppb |
| 2015-07-14 | 5810-014-1147 | 0.200 ppb |
| 2015-08-25 | 5810-014-1151 | 0.200 ppb |
| 2015-10-13 | 5810-014-1305 | 0.220 ppb |
| 2015-11-10 | 5810-014-1227 | 0.220 ppb |
| 2016-01-05 | 5810-014-1443 | 0.180 ppb |
| 2016-02-04 | 5810-014-1241 | 0.190 ppb |
| 2016-04-12 | 5810-014-1155 | 0.250 ppb |
| 2016-05-31 | 5810-014-1140 | 0.200 ppb |
| 2016-08-16 | 5810-014-1135 | 0.210 ppb |
| 2016-10-11 | 5810-014-1205 | 0.150 ppb |
| 2016-11-04 | 5810-014-1227 | 0.160 ppb |
| 2017-01-10 | 5810-014-1318 | 0.160 ppb |
| 2017-02-07 | 5810-014-1330 | 0.150 ppb |
| 2017-04-04 | 5810-014-1220 | 0.190 ppb |
| 2017-04-25 | 5810-014-1130 | 0.200 ppb |
| 2017-07-11 | 5810-014-1235 | 0.140 ppb |
| 2017-08-08 | 5810-015-1215 | ND |
| 2017-08-08 | 5810-014-1200 | 0.150 ppb |
| 2017-10-03 | 5810-014-1340 | 0.140 ppb |
| 2017-12-12 | 5810-014-1230 | 0.130 ppb |
| 2018-01-09 | 5810-014-1320 | 0.130 ppb |
| 2018-02-06 | 5810-014-1335 | 0.110 ppb |
| 2018-04-10 | 5810-014-1155 | 0.140 ppb |
| 2018-05-22 | 5810-014-1220 | 0.120 ppb |
| 2018-08-14 | 5810-015-1240 | ND |
| 2018-08-14 | 5810-014-1235 | 0.120 ppb |
| 2018-12-10 | 5810-014-1205 | 0.0780 ppb |
| 2019-02-08 | 5810-014-1108 | 0.0900 ppb |
| 2019-05-03 | 5810-014-1110 | 0.120 ppb |
| 2019-11-19 | 5810-014-1320 | 0.0690 ppb |