Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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

Southwood Water System

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
2018ND40ND
2019ND50ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND30ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-03-14ND
2018-03-14ND
2018-05-04ND
2018-07-19ND
2019-06-26ND
2019-07-12ND
2019-07-12ND
2019-09-05ND
2019-10-15ND
2021-03-124164633ND
2021-03-124166774ND
2021-03-174205286ND
2022-10-114465087ND
2022-10-174370660ND
2022-10-314465043ND
2022-10-314464989ND
2022-11-144382866ND
2023-03-144437441ND
2023-03-144437411ND
2023-09-264532910ND