The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an emergency order suspending all uses of dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), a pesticide also known as Dacthal. This marks the first time in nearly 40 years that the EPA has taken this kind of emergency action.
As of Aug. 7, DCPA may not be sold, distributed or used in any manner, and current stock of the product may not be used.
According to Brett Bultemeier, an extension assistant professor with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Dacthal is a pesticide used to control weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural settings, including turf. It’s primarily used on agricultural crops such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and onion.
The EPA said Amvac Chemical Corp. is the sole manufacturer of DCPA. Bultemeier identified the following products affected by the emergency order:
- Dacthal Flowable Herbicide (EPA Reg. No. 5481-487).
- Dacthal W-75 Herbicide (EPA Reg. No. WI050002).
- Technical Chlorthal Dimethyl (EPA Reg. No. 54851-495).
“DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately,” said Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Michael Freedhoff. “It’s EPA’s job to protect people from exposure to dangerous chemicals. In this case, pregnant women who may never even know they were exposed could give birth to babies that experience irreversible lifelong health problems. That’s why for the first time in almost 40 years, EPA is using its emergency suspension authority to stop the use of a pesticide.”
