For the first time in almost four decades, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken emergency action by banning the herbicide DCPA, also known as Dacthal, in order to safeguard the health of unborn infants.
DCPA is commonly used in the United States for weed control in both agricultural and nonagricultural settings, particularly on crops like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, onions, and cabbage, as stated by the agency.
These changes can result in low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills that could be irreversible, according to the agency.
The EPA estimates that pregnant women handling DCPA products may be exposed to levels of the herbicide up to 20 times higher than what is considered safe for unborn babies.
Another concern is the risk to unborn babies when pregnant women work in areas where DCPA has been applied, such as during weeding, transplanting, and harvesting of crops.
Current regulations state that work in treated fields should commence only 12 hours after DCPA application. However, the EPA found that DCPA can persist in a field at unsafe levels for 25 days or more.
Additionally, when pesticides like DCPA are sprayed, they can spread to neighboring areas, putting women in those regions at risk.
Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, emphasized the urgency of removing DCPA from the market, stating that it poses a significant danger.
“It’s EPA’s responsibility to protect people from exposure to harmful chemicals,” Freedhoff added. “That’s why, for the first time in nearly 40 years, EPA is utilizing its emergency suspension authority to halt the use of a pesticide.”
Stakeholder Reactions
In June 2023, the EPA released a draft occupational and residential risk assessment on DCPA and invited public feedback on the document.
The Arizona Pest Management Center cautioned that the costs of weed control for farmers would likely increase if DCPA registrations were revoked. This could lead to additional herbicide applications, increased labor for hand weeding, and potential yield losses without the use of the chemical.
EWG senior toxicologist Alexis Temkin highlighted the risks posed by the weedkiller to farmworkers, pregnant individuals, and other vulnerable populations, citing previous warnings from public health advocates.
In 1995, the EPA classified DCPA as a “possible carcinogen” based on studies showing its link to thyroid tumors in animals. A study conducted by AMVAC, the sole DCPA manufacturer in the U.S., revealed these findings.
In 2013, the EPA requested additional research from AMVAC on DCPA’s effects on fetal thyroid and other critical data. The company submitted its findings in 2022, demonstrating that even low doses of DCPA exposure can harm developing fetuses, according to EWG.
The economic benefits of DCPA were estimated to be at least $50 million annually, with the claim that there are no adequate alternative herbicides for certain crops.
Mily Trevino-Sauceda, executive director of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, a group representing female farmworkers, emphasized the risks faced by farmworker women and girls due to daily pesticide exposure. She highlighted their role as primary caregivers and providers of food to families across the country.
The Epoch Times reached out to AMVAC’s parent company, American Vanguard, for a response.
