EPA orders emergency ban over common pesticide

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY HAS ISSUED AND EMERGENCY BAN OF A POPULAR WEED KILLER – OVER RISKS TO UNBORN BABIES.

THIS MARKS THE FIRST TIME IN 40 YEARS THE E-P-A HAS ISSUED AN EMERGENCY BAN LIKE THIS.

THE ORDER WILL REMOVE THE PESTICIDE COMMONLY KNOWN AS D-C-P-A OR DACTHAL FROM THE MARKET. 

D-C-P-A IS USED TO CONTROL WEEDS IN CROPS LIKE STRAWBERRIES, BROCCOLI, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, CABBAGE, AND ONIONS.

IT CAN AFFECT FETAL THYROID LEVELS – LEADING TO LOW BIRTH WEIGHT, IMPAIRED BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, DECREASED I-Q, AND IMPAIRED MOTOR SKILLS LATER IN LIFE. 

IN A NEWS RELEASE – ONE E-P-A OFFICIALS SAID QUOTE… 

“D-C-P-A IS SO DANGEROUS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE MARKET *IMMEDIATELY*.”

THE AGENCY’S RISK ASSESSMENT FOUND HANDLING D-C-P-A PRODUCTS WHILE PREGNANT COULD EXPOSE FETUSES TO BETWEEN FOUR AND 20 TIMES THE CHEMICAL LEVEL CONSIDERED SAFE.

THE E-P-A ALSO SAYS ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE PESTICIDE HAS ALREADY BEEN APPLIED MAY BE JUST AS RISKY – ESPECIALLY FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS WEEDING OR HARVESTING IN AREAS WHERE IT’S USED.

AND WHILE PRODUCT LABELS ADVISE RESTRICTED ENTRY INTO FIELDS FOR 12 HOURS AFTER D-C-P-A IS USED – THE E-P-A SAYS THERE’S EVIDENCE LEVELS MAY STILL BE UNSAFE FOR NEARLY A MONTH. 

DCPA HAS BEEN BANNED FROM USE ON CROPS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION SINCE 2009.