Janice R. Andrews
Citing serious hazards to unborn infants, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has imposed an immediate ban of the widely used weedkiller DCPA, commonly known as Dacthal. With this announcement on Tuesday, the agency is using its emergency suspension authority for the first time in forty years. The insecticide ethylene dibromide (EDB) was subject to the latest such prohibition in 1983.
Dacthal is a common weed killer used in both non-agricultural and agricultural contexts. According to the EPA, it is often sprayed on artificial turf, grasses, and a variety of crops and vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and onions, as well as strawberries and cotton.
The agency made its decision in response to disturbing data showing that pregnant women who are exposed to dacthal run “serious risks” for their unborn children. Pregnant people who use DCPA products or live close to regions where Dacthal has been administered may be exposed to levels far higher than those recommended by the EPA. Exposure levels may exceed the safety threshold by four to twenty times in certain instances.
Product labels recommend limiting access to treated fields for 12 hours following treatment; nevertheless, data indicates that DCPA levels might continue to be hazardous for up to 25 days or longer. According to the EPA, exposure to dacthal can change the levels of embryonic thyroid hormone, which is linked to low birth weight, delayed brain development, a lower IQ, and reduced motor abilities later in life.
According to a press statement from the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, assistant administrator Michal Freedhoff stated, “DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately.” “The EPA’s responsibility is to shield the public from hazardous chemical exposure. Pregnant women in this situation, who might not even be aware that they were exposed, may give birth to children who suffer permanent health issues for the rest of their lives.
The EPA initially raised concerns about Dacthal in 2013 and demanded documentation from AMVAC Chemical Corp., the drug’s exclusive manufacturer, proving that the drug was still registered for use in humans. AMVAC’s submission of research was found deficient in several areas, and important studies—such as those on the effects on the thyroid—were absent. Even when AMVAC voluntarily stopped using Dacthal on artificial grass and later complied, the EPA deemed the hazards to be “unacceptable” and the company’s suggested modifications to be “not adequately addressing the serious health risks for people who work with and around DCPA.”
The product was placed on hold by the EPA in September due to AMVAC’s inability to provide data necessary to justify its registration. The EPA issued further warnings to farmworkers in April on the dangers of Dacthal, particularly for expectant mothers.
The EPA plans to publish a notice of intent to revoke DCPA goods within the next ninety days. The emergency order that was issued on Tuesday is effective immediately.
When CNN asked AMVAC for comment on the suspension, AMVAC did not reply.
In a press statement, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, the National Farmworkers Women’s Alliance, voiced support for the EPA’s decision through its executive director, Mily Treviño Sauceda. As a group run by women who work as farmworkers, we have firsthand experience with the damage that pesticides, such as dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate, or Dacthal, can do to our bodies and communities. We hope that this emergency decision is just the first of many that will be based on listening to farmworkers, preserving our reproductive health, and defending our families.
The EPA’s decision to temporarily suspend Dacthal’s use highlights the agency’s dedication to safeguarding the public’s health, particularly that of vulnerable groups like expectant mothers and their unborn children. The agriculture sector and consumers will need to adjust to safer weed management options as the EPA proceeds with its notice of intent to revoke DCPA products. This landmark ruling serves as a reminder that strict testing and oversight of chemical goods are still necessary to guarantee everyone’s safety and health.
