1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)
City of Delano
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.
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 | 0.0332 ppb | 25 | 17 | ND - 0.0850 ppb |
| 2015 | 0.0291 ppb | 30 | 20 | ND - 0.0810 ppb |
| 2016 | 0.0241 ppb | 9 | 5 | ND - 0.0650 ppb |
| 2017 | 0.0160 ppb | 8 | 4 | ND - 0.0430 ppb |
| 2018 | 0.0175 ppb | 8 | 4 | ND - 0.0440 ppb |
| 2019 | 0.00843 ppb | 7 | 2 | ND - 0.0340 ppb |
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
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-13 | 5810-037-1140 | 0.0700 ppb |
| 2014-01-13 | 5810-039-1345 | 0.0330 ppb |
| 2014-01-14 | 5810-042-0825 | 0.0210 ppb |
| 2014-02-18 | 5810-038-0800 | 0.0680 ppb |
| 2014-04-08 | 5810-037-0840 | 0.0690 ppb |
| 2014-04-08 | 5810-039-0930 | 0.0340 ppb |
| 2014-04-21 | 5810-038-1415 | 0.0690 ppb |
| 2014-04-29 | 5810-042-0745 | 0.0240 ppb |
| 2014-07-01 | 5810-013-0800 | ND |
| 2014-07-01 | 5810-033-0730 | ND |
| 2014-07-01 | 5810-017-0830 | ND |
| 2014-07-08 | 5810-039-0950 | 0.0420 ppb |
| 2014-07-08 | 5810-037-0830 | 0.0750 ppb |
| 2014-07-08 | 5810-042-0949 | 0.0290 ppb |
| 2014-07-08 | 5810-036-1025 | 0.0330 ppb |
| 2014-07-08 | 5810-035-0900 | ND |
| 2014-09-02 | 5810-038-0911 | 0.0850 ppb |
| 2014-10-20 | 5810-013-1145 | ND |
| 2014-10-20 | 5810-037-1000 | 0.0770 ppb |
| 2014-10-20 | 5810-042-0925 | 0.0310 ppb |
| 2014-10-20 | 5810-035-0910 | ND |
| 2014-10-20 | 5810-033-1125 | ND |
| 2014-10-24 | 5810-039-1345 | 0.0380 ppb |
| 2014-10-24 | 5810-017-1000 | ND |
| 2014-10-24 | 5810-036-1030 | 0.0320 ppb |
| 2015-01-06 | 5810-039-0815 | 0.0340 ppb |
| 2015-01-21 | 5810-037-0905 | 0.0700 ppb |
| 2015-01-21 | 5810-036-0900 | 0.0210 ppb |
| 2015-01-21 | 5810-035-0825 | ND |
| 2015-01-21 | 5810-033-0810 | ND |
| 2015-01-21 | 5810-013-1015 | ND |
| 2015-01-21 | 5810-038-1130 | 0.0810 ppb |
| 2015-01-21 | 5810-042-0850 | 0.0350 ppb |
| 2015-01-26 | 5810-017-1315 | ND |
| 2015-01-28 | 5810-039-1330 | 0.0500 ppb |
| 2015-03-17 | 5810-047-1030 | ND |
| 2015-04-15 | 5810-037-0820 | 0.0640 ppb |
| 2015-05-19 | 5810-039-0845 | 0.0350 ppb |
| 2015-05-19 | 5810-036-0905 | 0.0200 ppb |
| 2015-05-19 | 5810-042-0925 | 0.0300 ppb |
| 2015-05-19 | 5810-037-0950 | 0.0560 ppb |
| 2015-05-19 | 5810-038-1010 | 0.0730 ppb |
| 2015-07-21 | 5810-047-0810 | ND |
| 2015-07-23 | 5810-038-0815 | 0.0720 ppb |
| 2015-07-23 | 5810-036-1335 | 0.0260 ppb |
| 2015-07-23 | 5810-037-0830 | 0.0590 ppb |
| 2015-07-23 | 5810-042-0850 | 0.0250 ppb |
| 2015-07-23 | 5810-035-0730 | ND |
| 2015-07-23 | 5810-039-1350 | 0.0360 ppb |
| 2015-09-01 | 5810-047-0830 | ND |
| 2015-10-06 | 5810-036-1045 | 0.0260 ppb |
| 2015-10-27 | 5810-047-1015 | ND |
| 2015-11-17 | 5810-042-0915 | ND |
| 2015-11-17 | 5810-037-1000 | 0.0320 ppb |
| 2015-11-17 | 5810-039-0850 | 0.0270 ppb |
| 2016-07-19 | 5810-037-0920 | 0.0600 ppb |
| 2016-07-19 | 5810-047-0900 | ND |
| 2016-07-19 | 5810-039-1045 | 0.0390 ppb |
| 2016-07-19 | 5810-035-1030 | ND |
| 2016-07-19 | 5810-042-0940 | 0.0350 ppb |
| 2016-07-19 | 5810-033-0830 | ND |
| 2016-07-26 | 5810-038-0830 | 0.0650 ppb |
| 2016-08-16 | 5810-036-1000 | 0.0180 ppb |
| 2016-11-22 | 5810-033-1040 | ND |
| 2017-07-11 | 5810-042-0725 | 0.0290 ppb |
| 2017-07-11 | 5810-037-0926 | 0.0430 ppb |
| 2017-07-11 | 5810-035-0950 | ND |
| 2017-07-11 | 5810-033-0950 | ND |
| 2017-07-11 | 5810-039-0835 | 0.0320 ppb |
| 2017-07-18 | 5810-036-0945 | 0.0240 ppb |
| 2017-09-05 | 5810-017-1000 | ND |
| 2017-12-05 | 5810-047-1100 | ND |
| 2018-07-17 | 5810-047-1030 | ND |
| 2018-07-17 | 5810-033-1100 | ND |
| 2018-07-17 | 5810-017-0915 | ND |
| 2018-07-24 | 5810-037-1050 | 0.0440 ppb |
| 2018-07-31 | 5810-036-1100 | 0.0390 ppb |
| 2018-07-31 | 5810-035-1030 | ND |
| 2018-07-31 | 5810-042-1010 | 0.0310 ppb |
| 2018-07-31 | 5810-039-0915 | 0.0260 ppb |
| 2019-04-05 | 5806-039-0900 | ND |
| 2019-04-12 | 5806-039-1320 | ND |
| 2019-04-18 | 5806-039-1300 | 0.0250 ppb |
| 2019-04-25 | 5806-039-1400 | ND |
| 2019-07-23 | 5810-037-1115 | 0.0340 ppb |
| 2019-07-23 | 5810-047-1050 | ND |
| 2019-07-23 | 5810-017-0950 | ND |