Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

NJ American Water - Twin Lakes

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.

 

16

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
2019ND40ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND40ND
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
2019-02-1343034101ND
2019-05-0644230901ND
2019-08-1445892601ND
2019-11-1447239301ND
2020-02-1248540201ND
2020-05-0549977201ND
2020-08-1351388501ND
2020-11-1052497401ND
2021-02-1053400501ND
2021-04-2954355801ND
2021-08-1255748501ND
2021-11-0156678501ND
2022-02-1057759001ND
2022-05-1158518301ND
2022-08-1159880301ND
2022-11-0760827401ND