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DuPont's Benlate® Fungicide
Benlate® is a fungicide which is used pre-harvest and post-harvest as a dip or dust to combat a wide range of fungal diseases in arable and vegetable crops. Benomyl is the active ingredient in the brand name product Benlate®, produced exclusively by DuPont. Before DuPont discontinued manufacturing Benlate® in 2001, this fungicide had long been one of DuPont's most successful products and was registered worldwide for many crops. Benomyl was first synthesized by DuPont in 1959. Production of Benlate® began at the Belle, West Virginia plant in 1969. Benlate® was introduced in 1970 in a wettable powder form. In 1987 DuPont introduced an alternative, dry-flowable form that was recalled in 1989 and 1991 due to the presence of an herbicide in some lots.
Benlate and Lawsuits
These recalls of Benlate® due to contamination generated hundreds of claims--mainly for damage to crops. DuPont initially paid many claims and initiated their own studies into the alleged damages. When their studies did not duplicate the claimed injuries from Benlate®, the company declined to pay any further claims. In the following decade, DuPont faced hundreds of Benlate® lawsuits ranging from crop damage to personal injury. The litigation results were mixed. DuPont won cases before some courts and lost in others. Ultimately, citing business reasons, the company decided to stop manufacturing Benlate® worldwide in 2001, even though they still claim there is no credible scientific evidence demonstrating that Benlate® caused either damages to crops or injuries to human health. The company has faced a vast number of claims for Benlate® damage to crops, soil, and health, and announced that it is no longer willing to bear the high and continuing costs of defending the product in the US legal system.
DuPont continues to defend itself in legal ongoing matters. As of June 30, 2004, DuPont has incurred costs and expenses of approximately $1.9 billion from all Benlate® associated matters. The company has recovered approximately $250 million of its costs and expenses through insurance.
Benlate and Exposure During Pregnancy
However, studies have shown that the exposure to Benlate® in the first trimester of pregnancy can cause anopthalmia (no eyes) or microphthalmia (small eyes) in a fetus. Thus, a fetus would not fully develop or would not develop anything at all in their eye cavities. In 1972 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advised DuPont that it should put a label on Benlate® warning that it could cause birth defects and exposure during pregnancy should be avoided. But lobbying by DuPont persuaded the EPA that a warning on the Benlate® label was misleading and unnecessary.
If you have been exposed to Benlate® Fungicide and have suffered injury, you may have a legal case. If you would like to contact an attorney, please use the Find Attorney button at the top of the page.
