DCPA Faces Emergency Order from US EPA: Potential Risks to Fetal Health Draw Global Attention

On August 6, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took the unprecedented step of issuing an emergency ban on the herbicide DCPA (also known as Dacthal), halting all domestic registration and use of the product. Behind this decision, DCPA was unquestionably exposed as a serious and unignorable threat to fetal health. This is the first time in four decades that the EPA has used the authority of an emergency ban, demonstrating a strong defense of public health and safety.

As the sole holder of the DCPA certificate in the United States, AMVAC CHEMICAL is facing unprecedented challenges. DCPA, a weed-control herbicide that has been widely used in both agricultural and non-agricultural fields, has been used in a limited way but mainly on key crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and Onions. According to the data of Kynetec, the authoritative statistical agency, the global consumption of DCPA in 2022 is as high as 77 tons (in terms of pure products), of which the United States dominates with a share of 54 tons, followed by South Africa and Mexico with 10 tons and 7.5 tons respectively. It is worth noting that the United States is not only the largest consumer market for DCPA, but also the core link in its production chain. DCPA is converted into terephthalic acid through the oxidation of PX paraxylene, and then refined by chlorination process.

As a preventive herbicide, DCPA is known for its excellent broad spectrum and effective control of annual broadleaf and gramineous weeds. It is widely used in weed management of crops, lawns and horticultural plants, which provides strong support for agricultural production. The mechanism of its action is to inhibit the synthesis of plant cell walls, and then hinder the development of buds and roots, so as to achieve the effect of weeding. DCPA shows good selectivity for most crops and can be used either before or after sowing.

Applied by spraying or soil treatment, DCPA exhibits long-lasting effects in the soil. However, as a chemically synthesized organochlorine herbicide, its application also requires strict attention to environmental and safety factors. Although DCPA's performance in the global market has been relatively stable, scientific research continues to reveal its potentially significant risks.

According to a new study, some pregnant women have DCPA levels as high as 4 to 20 times the safe level, which has caused widespread concern. Although the product label clearly warns against access to the area within 12 hours of application, EPA's in-depth investigation revealed that the potential hazards of the DCPA can persist for up to 25 days or more. In the face of this urgency, EPA has decisively determined that continuing to sell and use DCPA products for as long as it takes to follow normal cancellation procedures will inevitably exacerbate the threat to the health of unborn children.

Although AMVAC has taken proactive steps to address this issue, the EPA concluded after a thorough and in-depth assessment that there are currently no effective mitigation measures to ensure the safe use of the DCPA. Therefore, in order to protect innocent fetuses from its harmful effects, the EPA decided to remove it from the market completely. Epa's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention emphasizes that exposure to DCPA can lead to abnormal thyroid hormone levels in the fetus, which can lead to low birth weight, impaired brain development, reduced IQ and motor skills, and can even cause lifelong health problems for victims.

In this context, EPA reaffirms its mission to protect the public from hazardous chemicals and calls on all sectors of society to work together to create a safer and healthier environment for people to live in. This decision not only reflects respect for and trust in scientific research, but also shows deep concern for human health and well-being.