(BIVN) – The use of the pesticide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate, also known as DCPA or Dacthal, must stop, by emergency order of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

The rarely used emergency suspension under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act was issued Tuesday “due to serious health risks, especially to unborn babies of pregnant mothers who may have been exposed to the pesticide,” a Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture news release explained. 

From the Hawaiʻi Department of Ag:

Upon receiving notification of the order by the EPA today, the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture’s Pesticides Branch began notifying pesticide retailers that are registered to import and sell the product in the state. All pesticide products sold in the state must be licensed with the Pesticides Branch and one pesticide product containing DCPA as the active ingredient, DACTHAL FLOWABLE HERBICIDE (EPA Reg. No. 5481-487), is licensed in Hawai‘i. Preliminary responses from retailers are that there have not been sales of the product in Hawai‘i for several years.

“DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “It’s EPA’s job to protect people from exposure to dangerous chemicals. 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.”

According to the EPA, DCPA is a pesticide registered to control weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, but is primarily used on crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions. 

In May 2023, EPA released its assessment on the risks of occupational and residential exposure to products containing DCPA. The assessment found health risks associated with DCPA use and application, even when personal protective equipment and engineering controls are used. The most serious risks are to the unborn babies of pregnant individuals. EPA estimates that some pregnant individuals handling DCPA products could be subjected to exposures four to 20 times greater than what EPA has estimated is safe for unborn babies. 

This emergency order, while rare, underscores the importance of proper disposal of all pesticides. 

Questions regarding DCPA products and the proper disposal of pesticides in Hawai‘i may be addressed to the Pesticides Branch at 808-973-9402 or hdoa.pested@hawaii.gov.