The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an emergency ban on a common herbicide, dimethyltetrachloroterephthalate (also known as DCPA or Dacthal), citing concerns that exposure of mothers to the pesticide could harm their unborn babies. Children pose risks.
DCPA is officially recognized Used as a pre-emergent herbicide to control annual grassy and broadleaf weeds on ornamental lawns and plants, strawberries, seed and transplanted vegetables, cotton and broad beans.
In its first emergency ban in nearly 40 years, the EPA highlighted the serious risks of exposure to DCPA. The agency warns that exposure to pesticides may affect fetal thyroid hormone levels, leading to irreversible complications including low birth weight, impaired brain development, reduced IQ and impaired motor skills later in life.
“DCPA is extremely dangerous and needs to be removed from the market immediately,” Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, said in a report. Press Releases.
“The EPA's job is to protect people from dangerous chemicals. In this case, babies born to pregnant women who may never know they were exposed to dangerous chemicals could experience irreversible lifelong health problems. That's Why, for the first time in nearly 40 years, the EPA is using its emergency moratorium authority to stop the use of pesticides,” Friedhoff said.
According to the EPA health assessment, pregnant women who handle DCPA products may be exposed to exposure levels that are 4 to 20 times greater than safe exposure levels for their unborn babies. Although product labels recommend limiting field access within 12 hours of application, studies have found that DCPA levels may remain unsafe for 25 days or more. Pregnant women may also be at risk from spray drift that occurs during or shortly after application.
Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, the National Union of Farmworker Women, welcomed the EPA's historic decision. “Alianza is pleased to see the EPA make this historic decision. As an organization led by female farmworkers, we understand that pesticides including dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal) can be harmful to our bodies and communities,” said Alianza Executive Director Mily Trevino Sauceda.