Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management

Disodium Methanearsonate (DSMA)

General Information

• Product Names:

  Summer Crabgrass Control (Scotts Company) 
  Riverside DSMA Liquid Plus Surfactant (Agriliance) 
  Clean Crop DSMA (Loveland Products)
  3 in 1 Weed Killer Bonide Products Triethanolamine 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate, (Silvex)
  Weed Beater Crabgrass and Lawn Weed Killer (Bonide Products), formulated with 2,4-D salt

• Chemical Class: Arsenical herbicide
• Uses: Weed control on cotton, for turf grass and lawns, and under trees, vines, and shrubs. CAMA is an herbicide registered for post-emergent weed control on lawns. Cacodylic acid is a defoliant and herbicide registered for weed control under non-bearing citrus trees, around buildings and sidewalks, and for lawn renovation.
• Alternatives: Organic agriculture, Organic lawn care
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Not documented
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Yes (23)
• Neurotoxicity: Not documented
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Yes (23)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes (23)
• Birth/Developmental Not documented
• Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
• Potential Leacher: Not documented
• Toxic to Birds: Yes (23)
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Yes (23)
• Toxic to Bees: Yes (23)

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (8/2006) (all uses cancelled)
• Supporting information:
  • PAN Pesticides Database: DSMA (Pesticide Action Network)
• Studies:
  • CHEJ Arsenic Factsheet (Children's Health Environmental Coalition)