Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Alberta Water 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.

 

17

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND80ND
2019N/A00N/A
2020ND10ND
2021ND80ND
2022N/A00N/A
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
2018-06-1835399332002ND
2018-06-1835399332003ND
2018-06-1835399332004ND
2018-06-1835399332001ND
2018-06-1835399332002ND
2018-06-1835399332003ND
2018-06-1835399332004ND
2018-06-1835399332001ND
2020-12-1535599419001ND
2021-02-1135612027001ND
2021-04-2735629109001ND
2021-04-2735629109002ND
2021-04-2735629109003ND
2021-04-2735629109004ND
2021-04-2735629109005ND
2021-07-1335648189002ND
2021-11-0235675540003ND