The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an emergency suspension of the weedkiller Dacthal (Dimethyl Tetrachloroterephthalate or DCPA), commonly used on crops like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and onions, due to serious risks to unborn babies.
The risks to unborn babies include thyroid problems, low birth weight, impaired brain development, and decreased IQ.
This is the first time in nearly 40 years that the EPA has taken such an emergency action.
The European Union had previously banned DCPA's use on crops in 2009, citing similar concerns.
The EPA had been requesting health effects data from DCPA's sole manufacturer, AMVAC, for over a decade before compliance in 2023, and the data provided was considered insufficient.
Sources: Time, CBS News, NBC News, ABC News, The New York Times, CNN, The Epoch Times, Common Dreams, ABC7 Amarillo, About Lawsuits.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
