Dacthal Pesticide Lawsuit

About The Dacthal Lawsuits

People around the country are filing lawsuits against chemical corporation AMVAC for its popular pesticide, Dacthal (chemical name dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate, or DCPA). The weed killer became available in the 1950s, but recent studies uncovered that Dacthal may cause severe harm to unborn babies and thyroid problems in adults, at much lower doses than formerly believed.

Worse still, evidence suggests that AMVAC, which has a record of violating EPA laws, may have known of the dangers and failed to warn farmers. 

If you were harmed by Dacthal or DCPA or used the herbicide while pregnant and your child was born with certain birth defects, you could qualify for compensation. This article explains Dacthal’s risks, qualifying conditions, and how to seek the justice you or your child deserve. 

What Is Dacthal, And Why It May Be Dangerous?

Dacthal, also known as dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate or DCPA, is a pre-emergent pesticide formerly used to protect crops and ornamental plants from weeds. Because of its agricultural uses, farm workers were commonly exposed to the potentially harmful substance.

In the past ten years, Dacthal has been used in Arizona, California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, though it was even more widely used in previous decades. 

The chemical was commonly used on vegetables and fruits like: 

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Onions
• Brussels Sprouts
• Bok Choy
• Strawberries

The weed killer was also frequently applied to home lawns and gardens, parks, playgrounds, and golf courses, where homeowners and patrons may have been exposed.

DCPA is sprayed on the soil before weeds emerge to prevent them from overgrowing desirable plants. It works by preventing weed sprouts from properly forming roots and emerging from the ground. 

Despite the herbicide’s uses, it could pose a risk to the environment and human health. Dacthal may enter the groundwater after irrigation or rainfall, where it can cause contamination. Most alarmingly, it is classified as a possible human carcinogen and is linked to a host of health problems in adults and unborn children. 

DCPA’s dangers to adults include: 

• Thyroid nodules and cancer
• Hypothyroidism
• Enlargement of the thyroid gland, also called goiter
• Autoimmune thyroid diseases like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease
• Thyroid hormone imbalances
• Skin and eye irritation
• Respiratory problems
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Liver and kidney damage
• Neurological issues

Unborn babies are at risk of:

• Fetal thyroid hormone imbalances
• Physical and neurological developmental problems and delays, including diminished IQ, low birth weight, and hindered brain development
• Decreased bone deposition (the process by which new bone is generated)