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What is Dacthal?

According to the EPA, Dacthal, scientifically known as dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) or chloral-dimethyl, is a widely used pesticide designed to manage the growth of weeds and unwanted plants [1]. This organic compound appears as colorless and odorless crystals, with limited water solubility.

DCPA may be applied at planting, transplant, post-emergence, or posttransplant as a soil treatment. It also may be applied as a foliar broadcast treatment or at layby. It can be applied with either ground or aerial equipment

In agriculture, it is commonly used on crops such as broccoli, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, and various herbs. Outside of agriculture, Dacthal is often utilized on non-residential turf and ornamental plants.

Dacthal is manufactured and marketed by AMVAC Chemical Corp. and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1958.

Growing Concerns Over Safety and Environmental Impact of Dacthal

According to NGWA, as the use of Dacthal became widespread, so did concerns about its safety and environmental consequences. By the 1980s, studies began to reveal that Dacthal could persist in the environment and potentially contaminate groundwater [2]. The discovery of its breakdown product, tetrachloroterephthalic acid, in various environmental samples raised significant concerns about the long-term effects of Dacthal’s extensive use.

These environmental issues prompted heightened scrutiny from regulatory bodies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated a re-evaluation of Dacthal, focusing on its potential carcinogenic risks and its impact on non-target species and water sources.

By the mid-1990s, several states, particularly those with vulnerable ecosystems, imposed restrictions on Dacthal due to the high risk of groundwater contamination, leading to numerous Dacthal lawsuits aimed at addressing the damages caused by its use.

EPA Bans DCPA Over Birth Defect Risk

On August 6, 2024, the U.S. EPA took what it describes as emergency action to effectively ban DCPA [3]. It’s the first time in nearly 40 years that the agency has made such a move, and the ban was made effective immediately.

DCPA can be harmful to fetuses, EPA said, causing lower IQ and other long-term adverse effects. The potential risks are greatest for individuals who come into close contact with the pesticide.

It’s applicators, farmworkers, people living near farm fields that are bearing the brunt of the risk,” said Charles Benbrook, PhD, an independent expert on pesticide use and regulation. “It’s a relatively small group of people who really pay a high price for being in the vicinity where those chemicals are being used

A pregnant woman who works with DCPA could be exposed to levels that are 4 to 20 times higher than what the EPA deems safe for an unborn child, even if they’re using the right personal protective equipment and following the correct protocol.

Consumers may also come into contact with DCPA through the food they eat. An analysis by Consumer Reports found that DCPA contributed to the pesticide-related risk of certain foods, including kale and mustard greens [4]. The pesticide is also used on other crops, such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and onions.

In making the decision to ban DCPA, the EPA cited research conducted by the pesticide’s manufacturer, the AMVAC Chemical Corporation, indicating that DCPA could affect thyroid hormones in fetal rats even at doses much lower than those known to cause problems in adult rats. In people, these disruptions could result in health problems such as low birth weight, impaired motor skills, and issues with brain and bone development, in addition to lower IQ.

Dacthal Birth Defects

• Low birth weight
• Impaired brain development
• Decreased IQ
• Impaired motor skills
• Problems with brain and bone development
• Other adverse health effects

Farmworkers Warned About Dacthal Exposure Health Risks

The EPA on April 1, 2024, issued a warning regarding the potential severe health risks to pregnant women and their developing babies exposed to DCPA in the womb [5]. The agency said it would pursue action to address “the serious, permanent and irreversible health risks associated with the pesticide as quickly as possible.”

The EPA said it took the rare step of warning farmworkers and the public because of the significant risks associated with DCPA that it had identified. The EPA also issued a letter to AMVAC restating the risks the agency had found and its plans to pursue further action to protect workers and others who could be exposed.

DCPA exposure represents a serious risk to pregnant workers and their children, so it’s imperative that we warn people about those risks now,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “We’re committed to taking action to protect the health of children, workers, and others who are exposed to DCPA

Which States Have Used DCPA?

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Wisconsin
• Michigan
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Texas
• Washington

EPA Issues Emergency Order on Popular Pesticide: ABC News Video

Who Can File a Dacthal Lawsuit?

Individuals eligible to file a Dacthal lawsuit include pregnant women and children born to women exposed to DCPA (dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate) during pregnancy. Exposure risk is heightened for those who apply DCPA or live and work on farms or facilities where the pesticide is used.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has raised concerns that pregnant women exposed to DCPA might experience changes in fetal thyroid hormone levels, which are associated with adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and reduced motor skills later in life.

Dacthal lawsuits aim to secure compensation for the health damages caused by these exposures, providing relief to affected individuals and families. While current lawsuits focus on birth-related injuries, legal experts anticipate that eligibility may expand as more information emerges about the broader health impacts of Dacthal exposure.

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Get a Free Dacthal Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers

The Toxic Tort Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in Dacthal Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Dacthal cases in all 50 states.

Again, if you were exposed to Dacthal during pregnancy, and your child has suffered health issues as a result, you should contact a Dacthal Lawyer immediately. You may be entitled to a Dacthal settlement by filing a suit and our lawyers can help.

References:
1. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/fs_G-31_1-Nov-98.pdf
2. https://ngwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1745-6592.1990.tb00333.x
3. https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/dcpa-dacthal-technical-herbicide-product-suspended-epa
4. https://www.consumerreports.org/pesticides-herbicides/epa-bans-dcpa-dangerous-pesticide-a1160095533/
5. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-warns-farmworkers-about-risks-dacthal