Information on Navigate and
Dow DMA 4 Aquatic Herbicides

Navigate and Dow DMA 4 are two products registered and approved by the US EPA for application to water to control noxious aquatic weeds. These products have 2,4-D as their active ingredient.

There are two basic families of plants in nature, members of the grass family and members of the broad leaf family. 2,4-D herbicides are selective and target specific for members of the broad leaf plant family. In the aquatic environment, the majority of native beneficial aquatic plants are members of the grass family. Some noxious species such as Eurasian Milfoil are members of the broad leaf family. As such, 2,4-D based herbicides have a unique place in aquatic application in that they can selectively control the noxious Eurasian Milfoil without having a negative impact on the native plants present.

2,4-D based herbicide have been used and studies for over 60 years. They are among the most completely studies products on the market. 2,4-D herbicides have also just completed US Environmental Protection Agency Re-Registration and have been certified for use in the aquatic environment by that agency.

A number of agencies world wide including the US EPA have concluded that 2,4-D based herbicides do not pose a risk to human health when used and applied according to the product label.

We have attached a couple of documents for those concerned to review. The first is the conclusion page from the Washington Department of Ecology Risk Assessment of 2,4-D as an aquatic herbicide. This Risk Assessment was performed as part of the states permit program. The second is a document listing the various agencies that have studied the health affects of this herbicide and their conclusions (along with citations to access that information)

Related Attachments

WE DOE Risk Assessment.pdf 129KB
24d News Release.pdf 26KB