Dibromoacetic acid

Howard, City of

Dibromoacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Haloacetic acids and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.445 ppb	4	2	ND - 1.10 ppb
2015	0.688 ppb	4	3	ND - 1.30 ppb
2016	0.258 ppb	4	2	ND - 0.530 ppb
2017	0.353 ppb	4	2	ND - 0.710 ppb
2018	0.598 ppb	4	2	ND - 1.50 ppb
2019	0.475 ppb	4	2	ND - 1.10 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.04 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.04 ppb for dibromoacetic acid was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a on-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level. This health guideline protects against cancer.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2014-02-09	53483	0.680 ppb
2014-05-04	109127	1.10 ppb
2014-08-11	171484	ND
2014-11-24	236076	ND
2015-02-23	284223	1.30 ppb
2015-05-19	335513	0.930 ppb
2015-08-25	394104	ND
2015-11-17	427858	0.520 ppb
2016-02-22	497154	ND
2016-05-24	551912	0.500 ppb
2016-08-22	608449	ND
2016-11-27	664700	0.530 ppb
2017-02-21	712236	0.700 ppb
2017-05-22	765848	ND
2017-08-20	823229	ND
2017-11-14	878697	0.710 ppb
2018-02-13	907028	1.50 ppb
2018-05-14	970926	0.890 ppb
2018-08-13	1025368	ND
2018-11-13	1077213	ND
2019-02-11	1120279	0.800 ppb
2019-05-12	1157332	ND
2019-08-11	1221778	ND
2019-11-11	1274232	1.10 ppb