Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Ward II Water District

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.

 

40

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND160ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND140ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND50ND

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
2018-05-0235390161002ND
2018-05-0235390161001ND
2018-05-0235390161002ND
2018-05-0235390161001ND
2018-06-2535400823001ND
2018-06-2535400823002ND
2018-06-2535400823003ND
2018-06-2535400823004ND
2018-06-2535400823005ND
2018-06-2535400823005ND
2018-06-2535400823001ND
2018-06-2535400823002ND
2018-06-2535400823003ND
2018-06-2535400823004ND
2018-09-1035417396001ND
2018-09-1035417396001ND
2019-07-2435485209001ND
2019-07-2435485209001ND
2020-06-2335558765001ND
2020-06-2335558765002ND
2021-03-2935622757003ND
2021-03-2935622757002ND
2021-03-2935622757001ND
2021-06-1435641231005ND
2021-06-1435641231004ND
2021-06-1435641231001ND
2021-06-1435641231002ND
2021-06-1435641231003ND
2021-06-2835644430001ND
2021-06-2835644434003ND
2021-06-2835644434002ND
2021-06-2835644434001ND
2021-06-2835644430003ND
2021-06-2835644430002ND
2022-08-2235742597001ND
2023-05-0835799020001ND
2023-05-0835799020002ND
2023-05-0835799020003ND
2023-05-0835799020004ND
2023-05-0835799020005ND