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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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

City of South Houston

NOTE: City of South Houston purchases water from City of Houston which is required to test for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (dbcp). Sample information shown below was taken by City of Houston.

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

 

93

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND50ND
2015ND10ND
2016ND100ND
2017ND50ND
2018ND10ND
2019ND100ND

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

NOTE: City of South Houston purchases water from City of Houston which is required to test for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (dbcp). Sample information shown below was taken by City of Houston.

Date Lab ID Result
2014-03-14AC47167ND
2014-04-16AC50878ND
2014-04-16AC50872ND
2014-04-16AC50874ND
2014-04-16AC50876ND
2014-04-17AC51104ND
2014-04-17AC51110ND
2014-04-17AC51124ND
2014-04-17AC51102ND
2014-04-17AC51130ND
2014-04-17AC51126ND
2014-04-17AC51100ND
2014-04-17AC51128ND
2014-06-03AC55815ND
2014-07-16AC59853ND
2014-08-14AC63719ND
2014-08-14AC63711ND
2014-08-14AC63731ND
2014-08-14AC63713ND
2014-10-08AC69221ND
2014-10-08AC69217ND
2014-10-08AC69215ND
2014-10-09AC69364ND
2014-10-09AC69372ND
2014-10-09AC69366ND
2014-10-09AC69370ND
2014-10-09AC69368ND
2014-10-09AC69374ND
2014-12-09AC74228ND
2014-12-09AC74232ND
2014-12-09AC74222ND
2014-12-18AC75465ND
2014-12-18AC75467ND
2015-03-04AC83008ND
2016-02-18AD24453ND
2016-03-03AD26959ND
2016-03-16AD29119ND
2016-03-16AD29125ND
2016-03-17AD29401ND
2016-03-23AD30203ND
2016-09-20AD50431ND
2016-09-20AD50433ND
2016-09-21AD50861ND
2016-10-06AD52696ND
2017-01-26AD67223ND
2017-01-26AD67233ND
2017-01-26AD67229ND
2017-01-26AD67235ND
2017-02-28AD72530ND
2017-03-02AD73214ND
2017-03-28AD77220ND
2017-03-28AD77212ND
2017-03-28AD77226ND
2017-03-28AD77218ND
2017-03-28AD77210ND
2017-03-29AD77490ND
2017-03-29AD77486ND
2017-03-29AD77516ND
2017-03-29AD77514ND
2017-04-26AD81241ND
2017-04-27AD81568ND
2017-04-27AD81570ND
2017-07-06AD88526ND
2017-07-06AD88522ND
2017-07-26AD90903ND
2017-09-11AD95535ND
2017-09-11AD95539ND
2017-09-11AD95533ND
2017-09-11AD95541ND
2017-09-11AD95543ND
2017-09-11AD95537ND
2017-09-26AD98101ND
2017-09-26AD98099ND
2017-11-07AE03905ND
2017-11-07AE03907ND
2017-11-07AE03915ND
2017-11-07AE03909ND
2017-11-07AE03911ND
2017-11-07AE03901ND
2017-11-14AE04797ND
2017-12-04AE06616ND
2017-12-04AE06618ND
2018-01-18AE09303ND
2019-01-15AE50204ND
2019-01-15AE50206ND
2019-01-16AE50208ND
2019-03-06AE57413ND
2019-03-06AE57419ND
2019-04-10AE62112ND
2019-07-25AE76015ND
2019-07-25AE76017ND
2019-09-23AE84264ND
2019-09-23AE84266ND