United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811 -F-9 5-003 j-C
October 1995
lal Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Dibromochloropropane
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public
or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if
found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
WHAT is
DERCMOCHLOPOPROPANE
AND HOW IS IT USED?
DRINKING WATER
STANDARDS:
MCLG:
MCL:
- PPM/PPB
- PPM/PPB
Dibromochloropropane, or DBCP is a dense yellow organic liquid with a
pungent odor. It is used primarily as an unclassified nematocide for soil fumigation
of cucumbers, summer squash, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, snap beans, okra,
aster, shasta daisy, lawn grasses and ornamental shrubs.
The list of trade names given below may help you find outwhetheryou are using
this chemical at home or work.
BEING REGULATED?
WHAT ARE THE
HEALTH EFFECTS?
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA
to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause
health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health
risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.
The MCLG for DBCP has been set at zero because EPA believes this level of
protection would not cause any of the potential health problems described below.
Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible,
considering the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants
using suitable treatment technologies.
The MCL has been set at 0.2 ppb because EPA believes, given present
technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can
reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it
occur in drinking water.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensur-
ing these standards are met, are called National Primary Drink-
ing Water Regulations. All public water supplies must abide by
these regulations.
Short-term: EPA has found DBCP to potentially cause the
following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels
above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: kidney and
liver damage and atrophy of the testes.
Long-term: DBCP has the potential to cause the following
effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: kidney
damage and antifertility; cancer.
TRADE NAMES AND
SYNONYMS:
DBCP
BBC 12
FUMAGON
FUMAZONE
NEMABROM '
NEMAFUM
NEMAGON
NEMANAX
NEMAPAZ
NEMASET
NEMAZON
GRO-TONE
NEMATODE
DURHAM NEMATO-
CIDE
October 1995
Consumer Version
'Printed on Recycled Paper
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In the past, release of DBCP to the environment occurred primarily from its How MUCH DBCP
fumigant and nematocide uses. In 1977, 831,000 pounds of DBCP was used in IS PRODUCED AND
CA alone, mainly on grapes and tomatoes. In 1974, USA farmers applied 9.8 RELEASED TO THE
million pounds of DBCP on crops. ENVIRONMENT?
All registrations of end use products were cancelled in 1979 except for the use
as a soil fumigant against nematodes on pineapples in Hawaii. This use was
cancelled in 1985.
DBCP released to soil will most likely evaporate or leach to groundwater. Break WHATHAPPENSTO
down by microbes is slow by comparison. Once in the atmosphere, DBCP is DBCP
expected to be broken down fairly quickly by sunlight. DBCP is not likely to WHEN IT IS RELEASED TO
accumulate in aquatic life. THE ENVIRONMENT?
The regulation for DBCP became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995, Howw,u.
EPA required your water supplier to collect water samples every 3 months for one DBCP
year and analyze them to find out if DBCP is present above 0.02 ppb. If It is present BE DETECTED IN AND.
above this level, the system must continue to monitor this contaminant. REMOVED FROM
M DRINKING WATER?
•lf contaminant levels, are found to be consistently above the MCLI your water
supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of DBCP so that it is consistently
below that level. The following treatment methods have been approved by EPA
for removing DBCP: Granular activated charcoal together with Packed Tower
Aeration.
If the levelsof DBCP exceed the MCL, 0.2 ppb, the system must notify the public How I 11LL I KNOWIF
via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as providing DBCP IS IN MY DRINK-
alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to ING WATER?
public health.
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a
about their drinking water, and to support local efforts valuable source of information.
to.protect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking For help in locating these agencies or for information on
water. Yçur water bill or telephone book’s govern- drinking water in general, call:
ment listings are a good starting point. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.
Your local water supplier can give you a list of the For additional information on the uses and releases of
chemicals they test for in your water, as well as how chemicals in your state, contact the:
your water is treated. Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 535-0202.
October 1995 Consumer Version Page 2
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