1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)
Regional Water Authority
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2019 | ND | 22 | 0 | ND |
| 2020 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2021 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2022 | ND | 31 | 0 | ND |
| 2023 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-08 | SOC 200531300 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533720 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533719 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533803 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533804 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533660 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533659 | ND |
| 2019-05-29 | SOC 200533881 | ND |
| 2019-05-29 | SOC 200533880 | ND |
| 2019-05-29 | SOC 200533867 | ND |
| 2019-05-29 | SOC 200533868 | ND |
| 2019-08-26 | SOC 200546198 | ND |
| 2019-08-26 | SOC 200546200 | ND |
| 2019-08-26 | SOC 200546197 | ND |
| 2019-08-27 | SOC 200546267 | ND |
| 2019-08-27 | SOC 200546268 | ND |
| 2019-08-27 | SOC 200546302 | ND |
| 2019-08-27 | SOC 200546303 | ND |
| 2019-08-28 | SOC 200546738 | ND |
| 2019-08-28 | SOC 200546737 | ND |
| 2019-08-28 | SOC 200546736 | ND |
| 2019-08-28 | SOC 200546553 | ND |
| 2022-07-11 | S300210659 300210666 | ND |
| 2022-07-11 | S300210651 300210658 | ND |
| 2022-07-11 | S300210156 300210163 | ND |
| 2022-07-11 | S300210822 300210829 | ND |
| 2022-07-11 | S300210164 300210171 | ND |
| 2022-07-12 | S300211086 300211093 | ND |
| 2022-07-12 | S300211068 300211075 | ND |
| 2022-07-12 | S300211076 300211083 | ND |
| 2022-07-13 | S300212413 300212420 | ND |
| 2022-07-13 | S300212421 300212428 | ND |
| 2022-07-14 | S300212957 300212964 | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | S300258850 300258857 | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | 300258850 300258857B | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | 300258858 300258865B | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | S300258858 300258865 | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | S300258921 300258928 | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | 300258913 300258920B | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | 300258921 300258928B | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | 300259358 300259365B | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | S300259358 300259365 | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | S300259350 300259357 | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | 300259350 300259357B | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | S300258913 300258920 | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | S300259930 300259939 | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | 300259930 300259939B | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | 300259940 300259947B | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | S300259940 300259947 | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | S300260499 300260506 | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | 300260499 300260506B | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | 300260507 300260514B | ND |
| 2022-12-06 | S300281400 300281407 | ND |