Clean Living
EPA issues stop use order for pesticide Dacthal
EPA Issues Emergency Order to Stop Use of Pesticide Dacthal to Address Serious Health Risk
On August 6, 2024, the EPA took the rare step of issuing an emergency order to stop using dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal) due to severe risks to unborn babies. This is notable because it's the first time in 40 years that the EPA has issued such an emergency stop order for a pesticide.
The EPA's decision is based on concerns that pregnant women exposed to DCPA, sometimes unknowingly, could experience changes in their babies' thyroid hormone levels. These changes are linked to a range of developmental issues, including low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and poor motor skills, some of which could be permanent. DCPA has been commonly used on crops like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, kale, cabbage, mustard greens, and onions. While it's been banned in the European Union since 2009, it was used on turf fields in the U.S., such as golf courses and athletic fields, until the manufacturer voluntarily discontinued its use in December.
What's concerning is that the EPA has been aware of these risks for decades. They've repeatedly asked the company that makes DCPA to provide data on how it affects thyroid development. Still, the company delayed and resisted these requests until late last year. A 2019 study found that over half of young women in California's Salinas Valley, an area with significant agricultural activity, had been exposed to this harmful herbicide.
Here are some key points:
Reliability of Safety Data: Relying on safety data from the companies that produce these chemicals is problematic. Industry-funded research often shows that their products are safe, while independent studies tend to reveal significant risks.
Limits of Traditional Testing: Standard toxicological tests often overlook the right health indicators, like fetal thyroid hormone levels. As a result, these tests might miss critical developmental risks, focusing instead on more obvious outcomes like cancer or death.
A Long-Awaited Action: This emergency stop by the EPA is a crucial step, but it's also been long overdue. The risks associated with DCPA have been known for years, and it's taken too long to address them.
As some of you may be concerned, here is some additional data:
Organic Produce is Safer: DCPA isn’t allowed in organic farming, so if you're choosing organic broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, or onions, you shouldn’t be exposed to this pesticide.
Risks from Conventional Produce: While farmworkers and those living near farms using DCPA are most at risk, small traces of this herbicide can still be found on conventionally grown versions of these vegetables.
Washing Isn’t Enough: Because DCPA is a systemic pesticide, it gets absorbed into the plant’s cells. This means that washing your produce won’t remove it, as it’s not just on the surface
In summary, the EPA's move to stop DCPA's use is crucial for protecting public health, especially for pregnant women and their babies. However, it also highlights the need for more thorough and independent safety evaluations of the chemicals used in our environment.