WEDNESDAY, Aug. 7, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- In an historic move, the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday banned the use of a pesticide that can harm fetuses. Known as dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal), the weedkiller is used on a variety of crops, including broccoli, onions, kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage.
However, when a pregnant woman is exposed to the chemical, it can alter fetal thyroid hormone levels, the EPA explained in announcing the . That can lead to low birth weight, impaired brain development, lower IQ and motor skill issues, the agency added. “DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately,” , assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, said in an agency on the emergency order.
“It’s EPA’s job to protect people from exposure to dangerous chemicals,” Freedhoff added. “In this case, pregnant women who may never even know they were exposed could give birth to babies that experience irreversible lifelong health problems. That’s why for the first time in almost 40 years, EPA is using its emergency suspension authority to stop the use of a pesticide.
” DCPA has been banned in the European Union since 2009, reported. Environmental groups applauded the move, if not its late timing. “The EPA’s decision to finally suspend DCPA is welcome news, but it’s long overdue,” Environmental Working Group (EWG) Senior Toxicologist , said in a .
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