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Farmworker Advocates Celebrate Rare EPA Ban of Toxic Pesticide

Summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an emergency order suspending the use of DCPA, a toxic herbicide known to cause irreversible developmental damage to fetuses. The ban, effective immediately, marks the first time in nearly 40 years that the EPA has exercised this authority for a pesticide. Farmworker advocates hailed the decision as a significant victory for environmental justice, as DCPA exposure has disproportionately harmed vulnerable communities, including pregnant farmworkers. The EPA’s action comes after years of mounting evidence regarding the herbicide's dangers, particularly its impact on fetal thyroid development and overall human health.

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