LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6 -- In a historic move, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Tuesday that it has taken emergency action to suspend all registrations of the pesticide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), also known as Dacthal.

The agency cited severe health risks to unborn babies. This marked the first time the EPA has employed such emergency measures in nearly four decades.

The suspension came after years of efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to assess and address the dangers posed by DCPA. According to the EPA, exposure to DCPA during pregnancy can lead to changes in fetal thyroid hormone levels, potentially resulting in "low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills later in life, some of which may be irreversible."

EPA Assistant Administrator Michal Freedhoff emphasized the situation's urgency, stating, "DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately."

The agency's primary concern is that pregnant individuals may be unknowingly exposed to the pesticide, putting their unborn children at risk.

DCPA primarily controls weeds in crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and onions. The EPA's risk assessment, released in May 2023, found that some pregnant individuals handling DCPA products could be exposed to "4 to 20 times greater than what EPA has estimated is safe for unborn babies."

The emergency order followed years of data collection and analysis. AMVAC Chemical Corporation, the sole manufacturer of DCPA, had been required to submit various studies since 2013 but failed to provide all the necessary data promptly.

Despite AMVAC's recent efforts to address concerns, including voluntarily canceling most DCPA use on turf in December 2023, the EPA determined that the risks associated with other uses remained unacceptable.

The suspension was effective immediately. The EPA cited the imminent hazard to unborn babies as justification for bypassing the normal, lengthy cancellation process. The agency planned to issue a notice of intent to cancel DCPA products within the next 90 days, potentially leading to a permanent ban on the pesticide.

  - Xinhua