Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Bethany Special Utility District

NOTE: Bethany Special Utility District purchases water from Johnson County SUD which is required to test for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (dbcp). Sample information shown below was taken by Johnson County SUD.

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.

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019N/A00N/A
2020ND50ND
2021ND20ND
2022N/A00N/A
2023ND40ND

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

NOTE: Bethany Special Utility District purchases water from Johnson County SUD which is required to test for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (dbcp). Sample information shown below was taken by Johnson County SUD.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-12-10Q1850236033ND
2018-12-10Q1850236031ND
2020-01-28Q2003074002ND
2020-01-28Q2003074004ND
2020-01-28Q2003074006ND
2020-01-28Q2003074008ND
2020-05-05Q2017189002ND
2020-06-17Q2024616001ND
2020-06-17Q2024616003ND
2020-10-07Q2039319003ND
2021-03-04Q2105758002ND
2021-03-31Q2108142005ND
2023-04-06Q2312829008ND
2023-10-26Q2346224030ND
2023-10-26Q2346224032ND
2023-10-26Q2346224033ND
2023-10-26Q2346224053ND
2023-10-26Q2346224054ND
2023-10-26Q2346224063ND
2023-11-21Q2350132001ND