Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System

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.

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND20ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021N/A00N/A
2022ND150ND
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
2018-01-31BZ82950SOC2ND
2018-06-28CA80715SOC2ND
2018-07-26CA99050ND
2019-01-09SOC 200518249ND
2019-03-11SOC 200524185ND
2022-01-31CK26558ND
2022-02-28CK76167ND
2022-04-18CL11075ND
2022-08-26CM16197ND
2022-08-26CM16200ND
2022-09-07CM25593ND
2022-09-08CM25670ND
2022-09-20CM37292ND
2022-09-20CM37296ND
2022-10-04CM49624ND
2022-10-04CM49621ND
2022-10-06CM51510ND
2022-10-06CM51504ND
2022-10-06CM50872ND
2022-11-03CM76536ND