E.P.A. Takes Bold Action Against Harmful Weedkiller Linked to Serious Health Risks
In a significant and unprecedented move not seen in nearly four decades, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) announced on Tuesday that it has issued an emergency order to suspend all uses of a controversial weedkiller linked to severe health risks for unborn children. This pesticide, known as dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate, or DCPA for short, is commonly marketed under the name Dacthal and is used on various crops, including broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and onions.
The E.P.A. has highlighted alarming research indicating that exposure to DCPA during pregnancy could lead to a range of serious health issues for babies, such as low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ levels, and reduced motor skills later in life. In a statement, Michal Freedhoff, the E.P.A. assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately.” She added that “In this case, pregnant women who may never even know they were exposed could give birth to babies that experience irreversible lifelong health problems.”
The sole manufacturer of DCPA, California-based AMVAC Chemical Corporation, has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the E.P.A.’s emergency order. This decisive action by the agency follows several years of what it describes as “unprecedented efforts” to compel AMVAC to provide comprehensive data concerning the pesticide and its associated health risks.
The E.P.A. estimates that pregnant women handling products containing DCPA could face exposure levels that are four to twenty times higher than what the agency considers safe for unborn babies. This revelation has raised serious concerns among health advocates and regulators alike.
Mily Treviño Sauceda, the executive director of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, also known as the National Farmworkers Women’s Alliance, praised the E.P.A.’s decision, calling it “historic.” This action marks a crucial step toward safeguarding the health of vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant women and their children, from the potentially devastating effects of hazardous pesticides.
