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Canada - Final Regulatory Action
Dibromochloropropane (DBCP) CAS number:
96-12-8
Date circular:
12/12/2005

Chemical name: Propane, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloro-

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Pesticide

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Banned

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

All formulations prohibited from import, sale or use.

Pesticide use or uses that remain allowed:

None

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: No

Summary of the final regulatory action:

Registration suspended in 1977; no pest control uses allowed as of December 31, 1978

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to: Human health

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

suspected carcinogenicity as a result of findings in preliminary feeding study
suspected sterility in industrial workers as a result of exposure
DBCP is a moderate central nervous system depressant and an eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritant. Acute overexposure to DBCP in humans by inhalation may cause central nervous system effects, with symptoms including drowsiness, narcosis, headaches, nausea, lightheadedness, weakness, and pulmonary congestion. Chronic inhalation exposure has been reported to cause kidney and liver effects in rats and mice. Chronic occuaptional exposure to DBCP caused decreased sperm counts in men, as well as more female than male children and infertility; however, no association between paternal exposure and birth defects, prematurity, mortality, or spontaneous abortions was noted. Testicular effects and decreased sperm count were observed in rabbits chronically exposed to DBCP by inhalation. No human data are available to evaluate carcinogenicity of DBCP to humans; however, rats and mcie exposed by inhalation developed nasal tumours. DBCP is considered a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. EPA and a possible human carcinogen by IARC.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to human health:

Chemical no longer registered for pest control use in Canada.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 01/01/1978