Dacthal (DCPA) Lawsuits

Exposure to Dacthal may have occurred if you applied Dacthal, or if you work or live on a farm or at a facility where DCPA is applied, or if you live within one mile of a farm or facility where Dacthal is applied.

If you or a pregnant loved one worked on a farm or at a nursery that used DCPA (Dacthal) pesticides, or if you live within one mile of such a facility, and meet the other criteria, or if you have a child with special needs who was exposed to DCPA in utero and are considering filing a Dacthal lawsuit, call us at 800-796-1636 or submit your case details online and someone will contact you shortly. You pay nothing unless your lawsuit is successful and you receive compensation.

At Trustwell Law, our experienced attorneys take a personalized, compassionate approach. We cut through the legalese and partner with our clients. We also have access to the expertise, resources, and manpower to fully investigate each case and fight for and with our clients to get the justice they deserve.

What is DCPA (Dacthal)?

Dacthal is the trade name for dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate or chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA). AMVAC Chemical Corp. is the sole producer of Dacthal.

Dacthal is an herbicide used to control weeds and grasses. It’s applied in a variety of settings, including agricultural settings in fields where fruits and vegetables are grown. Dacthal is also used in nonresidential turf, such as golf courses and athletic fields, and in home vegetable gardens and in nurseries.

Dacthal works by stopping cell division in germinating weeds. However, it can linger in the soil for a long time, contaminating crops grown later in the same field.

EPA Issued an Emergency Order Suspending All Uses of DCPA

In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Dacthal may pose a risk to people who apply it or enter treated fields. The EPA’s concerned is that pregnant women exposed to Dacthal could experience changes to fetal thyroid hormone levels, which can lead to low birth weight, impaired brain development, and other issues.

Then, in August 2024, the EPA issued an emergency suspension of Dacthal. It is the first time in almost 40 years the agency has taken this type of action.

Later in August 2024, following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s emergency suspension of Dacthal, the EPA received a letter from AMVAC Chemical Corporation stating its intent to voluntarily cancel the remaining pesticide products containing DCPA in the United State. AMVAC then announced it intended to cancel all international registrations, as well.

The Dangers of Dacthal (DCPA)

For years, the EPA repeatedly requested AMVAC submit data on Dacthal’s health risks, including its effects on fetal development, and the pesticide maker failed to provide necessary safety studies. AMVAC’s delayed and incomplete responses may play a significant role in Dacthal lawsuits.

According to the EPA, levels of DCPA in treated fields remain at unsafe levels for 25 days or more following its application. However, Dacthal product labels only specify that entry into treated fields must be restricted for 12 hours after application. The lack of this crucial information could have resulted in pregnant women being unwittingly exposed to hazardous levels of the pesticide, leading to impaired thyroid development in unborn babies, and these changes are generally linked to low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills later in life.

In fact, the EPA estimates that pregnant women who enter or work in areas where DCPA has been applied have an exposure risk four to 20 times greater than what the DCPA product label use instructions indicate is considered safe.

Dacthal (DCPA) Pesticide Lawyers

If you worked with Dacthal while pregnant and your child has one of the conditions listed above, contact us. The consultation is free. You pay nothing unless you win your case and receive compensation.