Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Hibiscus Homes (sc4360037)

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.

 

24

Samples

1

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

24

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.0895 ppb440.0340 ppb - 0.130 ppb
20190.0613 ppb440.0270 ppb - 0.130 ppb
20200.0670 ppb440.0610 ppb - 0.0750 ppb
20210.0650 ppb440.0630 ppb - 0.0660 ppb
20220.0518 ppb440.0470 ppb - 0.0580 ppb
20230.104 ppb440.0410 ppb - 0.254 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
2018-01-11AE058930.130 ppb
2018-04-30AE115380.0340 ppb
2018-07-02AE144510.110 ppb
2018-12-12AE228460.0840 ppb
2019-02-26AE263920.0400 ppb
2019-06-17AE322490.0480 ppb
2019-07-09AE333290.130 ppb
2019-12-11AE416560.0270 ppb
2020-01-22AE433210.0640 ppb
2020-05-07AE483700.0750 ppb
2020-07-15AE514090.0610 ppb
2020-11-09AE572550.0680 ppb
2021-02-02AE604350.0650 ppb
2021-05-04AE652700.0660 ppb
2021-08-16AE706410.0660 ppb
2021-11-02AE743690.0630 ppb
2022-01-12AE774380.0580 ppb
2022-04-13AE821190.0520 ppb
2022-07-06AE862030.0500 ppb
2022-10-31AE923550.0470 ppb
2023-01-25AE960650.0410 ppb
2023-04-25AF007320.0610 ppb
2023-07-19AF058520.0580 ppb
2023-11-08AF112910.254 ppb