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Dacthal (DCPA)

General Information

• Dacthal product names
• Chemical Class: phthalate pre-emergent herbicide
• Uses: Control of Broadleaf weeds and annual grasses in terestrial food crops, alfalfa, turf, ornamentals, and trees in agriculture and residential
• Alternatives: Agriculture, Ornamentals/Lawn
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health Effects

• EPA Acute Toxicity Class: IV (practically non-toxic)
• Cancer: Possible (10)
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Not documented
• Neurotoxicity: Not documented
• Kidney/ Liver Damage:Yes (6)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes (18)
• Birth/ Developmental Defects: Not documented

Environmental Effects

• Detected in Groundwater: Yes (37)
• Detected in Streams: Frequently (37)
• Potential Leacher: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/ Aquatic Organisms: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Bees: Yes (19)
• Toxic to Mammals: Not documented
• Long-Range Transport: Yes (41, 42)

Additional Information

• Regulatory Information:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (9/1995)
• Supporting information:
  • Asthma, Children and Pesticides (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Daily News Blog entries (Beyond Pesticides)
  • NCAP Dacthal Factsheet (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides)
  • Extoxnet Dacthal Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
  • PAN Pesticides Database: Dacthal (Pesticide Action Network)
• Key Studies: