Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Downsville Water System

NOTE: Downsville Water System purchases water from Culbertson Water System which is required to test for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (dbcp). Sample information shown below was taken by Culbertson 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.

 

13

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND20ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021N/A00N/A
2022ND70ND
2023ND20ND

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

NOTE: Downsville Water System purchases water from Culbertson Water System which is required to test for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (dbcp). Sample information shown below was taken by Culbertson Water System.

Date Lab ID Result
2019-10-2835508736001ND
2019-10-2835508736002ND
2019-10-2835508736003ND
2019-10-2835508736001ND
2019-10-2835508736002ND
2019-10-2835508736003ND
2022-01-1135690299003ND
2022-05-0435715589001ND
2022-09-2735750438003ND
2022-12-1235766640001ND
2022-12-1235766640002ND
2022-12-1235766640003ND
2022-12-1235766640004ND