On August 6, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a landmark emergency order banning the pesticide DCPA (also known as Dacthal) nationwide. This unprecedented action, the first in nearly four decades, halts all registrations, sales, and production of DCPA products, addressing concerns across human health, agriculture, and the chemical industry.
Evaluating the Implications and Risks of DCPA Use
DCPA is primarily used to control weeds in crops such as broccoli, kale, cabbage, and onions. AMVAC Chemical Corporation, the only producer of DCPA, provided critical thyroid function studies and other research in 2022 at the EPA's request. However, due to missing key data, the EPA temporarily suspended all DCPA product registrations in 2023 until further information is submitted.
In its 2023 risk assessment, the EPA emphasized that despite protective measures, DCPA poses significant health risks to pregnant women and their fetuses. Consequently, the EPA has issued an immediate suspension and plans to cancel the registrations of DCPA products within 90 days.
Bolstering Farm Worker Safeguards and Women's Rights
In a decisive action, EPA leaders stressed their commitment to public health, particularly safeguarding pregnant women and unborn children from unnoticed exposure to DCPA. This chemical is linked to irreversible health issues such as low birth weight and developmental impairments.
EPA officials also emphasized the need for enhanced protections for farm workers, advocating stronger measures for their health, rights, and family safety, with a focus on reproductive health.
