Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Springfield, Town of

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.

 

11

Samples

1

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

7

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A
20200.0125 ppb21ND - 0.0250 ppb
20210.0190 ppb21ND - 0.0380 ppb
20220.0273 ppb43ND - 0.0430 ppb
20230.106 ppb32ND - 0.284 ppb

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
2020-02-05AE44021ND
2020-02-05AE440470.0250 ppb
2021-02-10AE609070.0380 ppb
2021-10-14AE73494ND
2022-01-26AE780340.0430 ppb
2022-04-26AE827450.0270 ppb
2022-07-20AE868540.0390 ppb
2022-10-12AE91362ND
2023-01-24AE95929ND
2023-04-24AF005820.0340 ppb
2023-10-18AF103890.284 ppb