Current:Home > ScamsEPA issues rare emergency ban on pesticide that damages fetuses-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
EPA issues rare emergency ban on pesticide that damages fetuses
View Date:2024-12-24 22:08:09
ST. LOUIS (AP) — For the first time in roughly 40 years, the Environmental Protection Agency used its emergency authority to halt the sale of a weed-killing pesticide that harms the development of unborn babies.
Officials took the rare step because the pesticide DCPA, or Dacthal, could cause irreversible damage to fetuses, including impaired brain development and low birthweight. The agency struggled to obtain vital health data from the pesticide’s manufacturer on time and decided it was not safe to allow continued sale, EPA said in an announcement Tuesday.
“In this case, pregnant women who may never know they were exposed could give birth to babies that experience irreversible lifelong health problems,” said Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
DCPA is mostly used on broccoli, cabbage and certain other crops and about 84,000 pounds were used on average in 2018 and 2020, officials said.
In 2023, the EPA assessed the pesticide’s risks and found it was dangerous even if a worker wore personal protective equipment. The manufacturer had instructed people to stay off fields where the pesticide had been applied for 12 hours, but agency officials said it could linger at dangerous levels for more than 25 days.
The pesticide is made by AMVAC Chemical Corp. The company did not immediately return a request for comment late Wednesday. In comments to the EPA earlier this year, the company said new protocols could help keep people safe. It proposed longer waiting periods before workers enter fields where the pesticide was applied and limits on how much of the chemical could be handled.
Federal officials said the company’s proposed changes weren’t enough. The emergency order was necessary because the normal review process would take too long and leave people at risk, according to the agency’s statement.
___
The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
veryGood! (671)
Related
- Love Is Blind’s Chelsea Blackwell Reacts to Megan Fox’s Baby News
- UN chief gives interview from melting Antarctica on eve of global climate summit
- A newly formed alliance between coup-hit countries in Africa’s Sahel is seen as tool for legitimacy
- At least 10 Thai hostages released by Hamas
- Steelers' Mike Tomlin shuts down Jayden Daniels Lamar comparison: 'That's Mr. Jackson'
- Top diplomats from Japan and China meet in South Korea ahead of 3-way regional talks
- Gwyneth Paltrow talks menopause and perimenopause: 'It's nothing to be hidden'
- How to enroll in Zelle: Transfer money through the app easily with this step-by-step guide
- The Masked Singer's Ice King Might Be a Jonas Brother
- 5 people dead in a Thanksgiving van crash on a south Georgia highway
Ranking
- Over 1.4 million Honda, Acura vehicles subject of US probe over potential engine failure
- This mom nearly died. Now she scrubs in to the same NICU where nurses cared for her preemie
- An early boy band was world famous — until the Nazis took over
- Avalanche in west Iran kills 5 mountain climbers and injures another 4
- Judge recuses himself in Arizona fake elector case after urging response to attacks on Kamala Harris
- Why Mark Wahlberg Wakes Up at 3:30 A.M.
- Andrew Cuomo accused of sexual harassment by former aide in new lawsuit
- Appeals court says Georgia may elect utility panel statewide, rejecting a ruling for district voting
Recommendation
-
Oprah Winfrey denies being paid $1M for Kamala Harris rally: 'I was not paid a dime'
-
Eating out on Thanksgiving? You're not alone. Some Americans are opting not to cook
-
Paris Hilton spends first Thanksgiving with son Phoenix: 'Grateful for this beautiful life'
-
The Excerpt podcast: Cease-fire between Hamas and Israel begins, plus more top stories
-
Man killed in Tuskegee University shooting in Alabama is identified. 16 others were hurt
-
No. 7 Texas secures Big 12 title game appearance by crushing Texas Tech
-
Jets vs. Dolphins winners and losers: Tyreek Hill a big winner after Week 12 win
-
Slovak leader calls the war between Russia and Ukraine a frozen conflict