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Dacthal, also known by its chemical name dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), is an herbicide that has been widely used in agriculture since its introduction by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1958. It's a pre-emergent herbicide, meaning it stops weeds before they even see the light of day. Farmers and gardeners loved it. They would sprinkle it on their fields, and the weeds would simply never show up. Dacthal was a big hit in states like California, Washington, and Arizona. It was especially popular for controlling weeds in crops like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and onions. Even though Dacthal was widely used, its safety was questioned for years. Studies showed it was potentially harmful, especially for pregnant women, and lawsuits were filed. As affected individuals and communities sought accountability, understanding the legal basis for Dacthal lawsuits became important. (more…)