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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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

Kennett

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

 

86

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND200ND
2015ND150ND
2016ND200ND
2017ND210ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND60ND

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
2014-02-05AC17618ND
2014-02-05AC17617ND
2014-02-05AC17621ND
2014-02-05AC17619ND
2014-02-05AC17620ND
2014-05-01AC22461ND
2014-05-01AC22462ND
2014-05-01AC22463ND
2014-05-01AC22464ND
2014-05-01AC22460ND
2014-07-23AC30028ND
2014-07-23AC30027ND
2014-07-23AC30026ND
2014-07-23AC30025ND
2014-07-23AC30024ND
2014-10-29AC37278ND
2014-10-29AC37279ND
2014-10-29AC37280ND
2014-10-29AC37281ND
2014-10-29AC37282ND
2015-05-14AC50747ND
2015-05-14AC50749ND
2015-05-14AC50750ND
2015-05-14AC50748ND
2015-05-14AC50746ND
2015-08-04AC55420ND
2015-08-04AC55422ND
2015-08-04AC55418ND
2015-08-04AC55419ND
2015-08-04AC55421ND
2015-10-28AC61948ND
2015-10-28AC61949ND
2015-10-28AC61947ND
2015-10-28AC61946ND
2015-10-28AC61945ND
2016-02-02AC65717ND
2016-02-02AC65718ND
2016-02-02AC65716ND
2016-02-02AC65715ND
2016-02-02AC65714ND
2016-05-02AC70009ND
2016-05-02AC70007ND
2016-05-02AC70008ND
2016-05-02AC70006ND
2016-05-02AC70005ND
2016-08-04AC80709ND
2016-08-04AC80708ND
2016-08-04AC80706ND
2016-08-04AC80707ND
2016-08-04AC80705ND
2016-10-27AC85953ND
2016-10-27AC85951ND
2016-10-27AC85954ND
2016-10-27AC85952ND
2016-10-27AC85950ND
2017-01-23AC89831ND
2017-01-23AC89829ND
2017-01-23AC89832ND
2017-01-23AC89833ND
2017-01-23AC89830ND
2017-04-26AC95079ND
2017-04-26AC95078ND
2017-04-26AC95077ND
2017-04-26AC95075ND
2017-04-26AC95076ND
2017-06-14AC99433ND
2017-07-18AD02384ND
2017-07-18AD02383ND
2017-07-18AD02382ND
2017-07-18AD02381ND
2017-07-18AD02380ND
2017-10-24AD08581ND
2017-10-24AD08585ND
2017-10-24AD08582ND
2017-10-24AD08584ND
2017-10-24AD08583ND
2018-01-22AD12053ND
2018-05-03AD18669ND
2018-07-12AD29586ND
2018-10-15AD35066ND
2019-01-10AD38378ND
2019-04-09AD46665ND
2019-08-06AD52714ND
2019-11-06AD57373ND
2019-12-04AD59284ND
2019-12-04AD59285ND