For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is using its emergency authority to stop the sale of a dangerous pesticide. The EPA has ordered an immediate halt in sales of DCPA, also known as Dacthal, that has been linked to serious health risks to agricultural workers and pregnant women.
The Grave Risks of DCPA
Studies dating back to the 1990s have confirmed serious health risks associated with exposure to Dacthal, including impaired brain development, low birthweight and other birth defects. Exposure to Dacthal is also a serious risk for farmworkers, particularly those who work with leafy vegetables like kale, as well as broccoli, artichokes, beans and cucumbers.
DCPA has been found in alarmingly high concentrations in certain vegetables. A 2019 study found that nearly 60% of kale samples tested by the USDA contained traces of DCPA.