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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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

Mililani

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

 

63

Samples

2

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

6

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.0308 ppb264ND - 0.270 ppb
2015ND80ND
2016ND60ND
20170.0267 ppb61ND - 0.160 ppb
2018ND70ND
20190.0170 ppb101ND - 0.170 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
2014-02-11201402140316ND
2014-02-11201402140316ND
2014-02-18201402200346ND
2014-02-18201402200344ND
2014-02-18201402200344ND
2014-02-18201402200346ND
2014-02-252014022802940.270 ppb
2014-02-252014022802940.270 ppb
2014-04-07201404090487ND
2014-04-07201404090488ND
2014-04-07201404090487ND
2014-04-07201404090488ND
2014-07-08201407100617ND
2014-07-08201407100616ND
2014-07-08201407100616ND
2014-07-08201407100617ND
2014-07-23C14-07-0149A0.130 ppb
2014-07-23C14-07-0149A0.130 ppb
2014-07-31201408010279ND
2014-07-31201408010279ND
2014-10-16201410170321ND
2014-10-16201410170321ND
2014-10-24201410280162ND
2014-10-24201410280162ND
2014-10-31201411040540ND
2014-10-31201411040540ND
2015-01-20201501220075ND
2015-01-29201501300118ND
2015-04-10201504140150ND
2015-04-10201504140151ND
2015-07-13201507150474ND
2015-07-13201507150473ND
2015-10-16201510210705ND
2015-10-16201510210706ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-04-11ND
2016-04-11ND
2016-07-13ND
2016-10-03ND
2017-02-01ND
2017-02-09ND
2017-08-03ND
2017-11-01ND
2017-11-01ND
2017-11-140.160 ppb
2018-01-11201712280237ND
2018-04-10201804130363ND
2018-04-10201804130364ND
2018-07-11201807140223ND
2018-09-13201809060455ND
2018-10-24201810260096ND
2018-10-24201810260095ND
2019-01-29201901300201ND
2019-01-29201901300202ND
2019-03-122019030201350.170 ppb
2019-04-12201904160171ND
2019-04-12201904160173ND
2019-06-27201906190032ND
2019-08-21201908220664ND
2019-08-21201908220665ND
2019-10-14201910160311ND
2019-10-14201910160312ND