The EPA says it suspended all registrations of the herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate — DCPA or Dacthal — under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
Dachtal is a herbicide used in agricultural and non-agricultural settings but is primarily used on broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions.
The EPA said it halted use due to the potential for pregnant women exposed to DCPA to have changes to fetal thyroid hormone levels, which could result in low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ and impaired motor skills.
“Farmworkers face burdensome conditions in the fields and often face exposure to harmful pesticides while working to feed our nation,” U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., said in a news release. “I applaud the emergency action by the EPA which prioritizes farmworker health and safety, especially for pregnant women, by suspending this harmful chemical from our agricultural systems. We must continue to build on this progress and ensure all farmworkers are given the protection, worker’s rights, and overtime pay they deserve.”
The EPA said DCPA is undergoing a registration review, which registered pesticides undergo every 15 years to ensure they do not cause reasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. The agency consulted with the USDA prior to the decision to halt use to understand how growers use DCPA and alternatives to the pesticide.
AMVAC Chemical Corp. is the sole producer of DCPA, according to the release.
Related link: More about the EPA’s decision
