EPA Issues Emergency Ban on Pesticide Dacthal Due to Health Risks
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an emergency suspension of the pesticide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), also known as Dacthal, due to significant health risks, particularly to pregnant women and unborn children. This action marks the first use of the EPA's emergency suspension authority in nearly 40 years. DCPA, commonly used for weed control on crops such as cabbage, onions, and broccoli, has been linked to adverse effects on fetal thyroid hormone levels, resulting in potential lifelong health issues such as low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills.
The EPA's decision follows long-standing concerns and the failure of the manufacturer, AMVAC Chemical Corporation, to provide adequate data on the health risks of DCPA. The agency estimates that exposure levels for pregnant women could be up to 20 times higher than what is considered safe. The pesticide is currently undergoing a registration review, a process mandated every 15 years under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to ensure that registered pesticides do not pose unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. The EPA plans to issue a notice of intent to cancel DCPA products within the next 90 days.
