DBCP (1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane) in Drinking Water

🩨 Health Effects

DBCP is a probable human carcinogen. It caused sterility in male workers who handled it and may cause reproductive harm at lower levels. Also associated with liver and kidney damage.

📍 Sources in Water

A soil fumigant banned in the 1970s after causing sterility in factory workers. Residues persist in agricultural groundwater decades after application. Elevated levels are still found in California's Central Valley and other former agricultural regions.

✅ What To Do

Activated carbon filtration and reverse osmosis can remove DBCP. Private well owners in former pineapple, cotton, or soybean growing areas should test their water. DBCP violations still occur occasionally in California.

📜 Regulation History

The EPA set the DBCP MCL at 0.0002 mg/L (0.2 ppb) in 1987, with an MCLG of zero. DBCP was banned in 1979 after it was discovered to cause sterility in male factory workers. Despite the 45+ year ban, DBCP persists in groundwater in California's Central Valley and Hawaii. The WHO guideline is 0.001 mg/L, less strict than the US standard.

🔬 How To Test Your Water

Certified lab tests for DBCP cost $50-$100 using EPA Method 524.2 or 504.1. Home test kits are not available. Testing is most relevant for private wells in California's Central Valley, Hawaii, and other areas where DBCP was heavily applied as a soil fumigant.

💧 Which Filters Remove DBCP (1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane)?

Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration is effective at removing DBCP. Reverse osmosis also works well. Air stripping can reduce DBCP since it is volatile. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for VOC or pesticide reduction.

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