Goldenberg Lauricella is currently investigating cases where pregnant women have been exposed to Dacthal, a pesticide also known as dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), and given birth to a child with serious birth injuries.
Birth injuries linked to Dacthal exposure include:
- Low birth weight
- Impaired brain development
- Decreased IQ
- Impaired motor skills
Contact the Dacthal attorneys at Goldenberg Lauricella at (800) 903-1643 or info@goldenberglaw.com to schedule a free Dacthal lawsuit consultation.
August 2024: EPA Suspends Dacthal Use
On August 6, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an emergency suspension of the use of Dacthal due to serious injury risks the pesticide poses to unborn babies. The suspension is the first time in nearly 40 years that the EPA has taken the drastic step to emergently suspend the use of a widespread agricultural pesticide. However, the action comes after roughly a decade of mostly unsuccessful efforts by the agency to procure safety data from the manufacturer of Dacthal, AMVAC Chemical Corporation.
Do I Have a Dacthal Lawsuit?
If your child was born with a birth injury after fetal exposure to Dacthal, you may be eligible to file a Dacthal lawsuit on their behalf. Exposure to Dacthal can occur through commercial or residential application of products containing the pesticide. Exposure can also occur if pregnant women live near or regularly visit an area recently treated with Dacthal, including farms, athletic fields, and golf courses. According to the EPA, dangerous levels of Dacthal can remain in a treated area for up to 25 days. Contact the DCPA lawsuit attorneys at Goldenberg Lauricella to discuss your potential Dacthal case.
Call 1-800-903-1643 For a Free Dacthal Lawsuit Consultation
Birth Injuries Linked to Dacthal
Exposure of unborn babies to Dacthal can alter fetal thyroid hormone levels, which can lead to the development of serious birth injuries. These include:
- Low birth weight
- Impaired brain development
- Decreased IQ
- Impaired motor skills.
These complications can be permanent and result in incurring thousands of dollars worth of medical bills, diminished earning capacity, and more.
If your child is suffering from a birth injury after fetal exposure to Dacthal, you may qualify for a DCPA lawsuit. The Minnesota birth injury lawyers at Goldenberg Lauricella have represented thousands of individuals around the country who have been harmed by dangerous products such as Dacthal. We have the experience and expertise you need to bring a Dacthal lawsuit against the manufacturer.
Don’t wait to get started on your claim—call our Dacthal lawsuit lawyers at (800) 903-1643 or fill out a contact form to schedule a free DCPA lawsuit consultation. Leave the sleepless nights to us.
Who Is Most At Risk of Suffering Injuries From Dacthal Exposure?
According the EPA, unborn babies are most at risk of suffering injuries from Dacthal exposure. Pregnant women who handle products containing Dacthal may be exposed to up to 20 times the amount deemed safe for unborn babies.
How Are People Exposed to Dacthal?
Agricultural workers who handle, apply, or work around the application of products containing Dacthal may experience high levels of exposure to the pesticide. However, dangerous levels of exposure are not limited to handling or applying products containing Dacthal. In fact, the EPA warns that levels of Dacthal in treated areas can linger at unsafe levels for up to 25 days. Therefore, pregnant individuals who enter or live by an area treated with Dacthal in the previous 25 days may be exposed to dangerous levels of the pesticide. Of particular concern are pregnant farm workers who handle tasks such as transplanting, weeding, and harvesting in areas where Dacthal has recently been applied.
Pregnant individuals may also be exposed to dangerous levels of Dacthal if a partner, family member, or someone living in their house works directly with products containing the pesticide.
The EPA has also warned that people who frequent golf courses and athletic fields may be at risk of exposure to high levels of Dacthal.
Who Can Bring a Dacthal Lawsuit?
Parents of children born with birth defects may be eligible to file a Dacthal lawsuit on behalf of their child if the child was exposed to Dacthal prior to birth. An unborn child can be exposed to dangerous levels of Dacthal if the child’s mother directly handled or applied Dacthal, or worked or lived in an area where products containing Dacthal were applied. Many eligible clients will have worked at or lived around commercial or family farms where vegetable crops are grown, athletic fields, or golf courses,
Seeking Justice for Children Injured by Dacthal
The EPA’s ban on Dacthal serves as a critical step in protecting public health, but it also raises important legal questions for those affected by the pesticide. Families who have experienced birth injuries or other health problems related to Dacthal exposure may be entitled to seek compensation for their damages.
The Dacthal lawyers at Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC are dedicated to helping victims of DCPA exposure navigate the complex legal landscape and pursue justice. We have nearly 40 years of experience holding manufacturers like AMVAC accountable for the harm caused by their products and securing compensation for victims injured by those products.
If you are interested in learning whether you qualify for a Dacthal lawsuit, contact the attorneys at Goldenberg Lauricella today. Our team of DCPA injury attorneys has the experience you need to obtain the justice you deserve.
EPA Dacthal Ban Was Over 10 Years In The Making
In 2013, the EPA requested a range of safety information on Dacthal from AMVAC, including a study on the impact of Dacthal on thyroid development and function in adults and in children before and after birth. The studies AMVAC submitted between 2013 and 2021 were either incomplete or insufficient, and the company did not submit a study on the impact of Dacthal on thyroid development until August 2022.
In May 2023, the EPA issued a report on the dangers posed by commercial and residential exposure to products containing Dacthal. The report was largely based off of the thyroid study AMVAC submitted in August 2022. The agency’s assessment concluded that unborn babies of pregnant women exposed to Dacthal are at a high risk of suffering birth injuries. These risks remain high even when protective equipment and other safety measures are used.
What is Dacthal?
Dacthal has been used extensively in agriculture to control broadleaf weeds and grasses in crops such as broccoli, Brussells sprouts, cabbage, and onions. It was first registered as a pesticide in the United States in 1958. Dacthal can be applied with both ground and aerial equipment. It works by inhibiting the growth of weed seedlings, making it a valuable tool for farmers seeking to protect their crops from invasive plant species.