24
Jul
Groups Petition EPA to Protect Public Health and Environment from PFAS in Pesticides
(Beyond Pesticides, July 24, 2024) The Center for Food Safety—joined by environmental, farm, and grassroots organizations including Beyond Pesticides—submitted a groundbreaking petition yesterday to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urging immediate action to address the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pesticides and pesticide containers. Numerous studies have shown that the broad use of PFAS chemicals, and the resulting environmental contamination, has devastating impacts on public health, wildlife, and pollinators. Despite acknowledging PFAS as an urgent public health and environmental issue, EPA has upheld hundreds of registrations of pesticide ingredients that fall into the PFAS category. Furthermore, EPA has allowed the ongoing use of fluorinated pesticide storage containers, despite the agency itself finding that these containers leach PFAS chemicals into pesticide products.
PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” due to their ability to persist in the environment, are endocrine disruptors, which are linked to developmental issues, cancers, and organ damage. Crops can uptake PFAS from soil, resulting in dietary exposure for both the public and wildlife, while PFAS ingredients in pesticides can also leach into groundwater, contributing to widespread PFAS drinking water contamination. In recent years, EPA has acknowledged this critical issue and committed to addressing PFAS contamination outside the context of pesticide regulation, including issuing the first-ever enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to two PFAS chemicals (PFOS and PFOA).
“While the Biden Administration has taken steps to address PFAS contamination in other areas, the EPA has allowed these forever chemicals to be used on our nation’s food supply, public playgrounds, school lawns, and backyard gardens unabated,” said Sylvia Wu, attorney for Center for Food Safety and counsel for the petitioners. “We call on the administration today to live up to its commitment to protect communities and the environment and swiftly end the use of PFAS in pesticides.”
“With EPA having permitted the proliferation of PFAS in pesticide products—contaminating land, air, water, and food with multigenerational threats to health and ecosystems—the petition establishes that it well past the time for the agency to comply with the law, and stop the chemicals’ entry into commerce,” said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides. “We have safe alternative practices and products,” he said.
Today’s Petition calls on EPA to: (1) ban PFAS as pesticide ingredients; (2) adopt a broad definition of PFAS chemicals that reflect the current scientific understanding of the class of chemicals; (3) prohibit the use of PFAS-containing containers for pesticide storage; (4) mandate reporting of PFAS contamination from pesticide registrants; and (5) prevent future contamination by requiring pesticide manufacturers to submit data specific to PFAS before future registrations can be approved.
The petition represents the concerns of numerous groups focused on protecting the health of both people and pollinators essential to our food system from pesticide use and PFAS exposure. In addition to the Center for Food Safety, it is endorsed by: American Bird Conservancy, Beyond Pesticides, Massachusetts Pollinator Network, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Norwalk River Watershed Association, Pesticide Action Network North America, Northeast Organic Farming Association Interstate Council, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, Rural Vermont, Toxic Free NC, and Tom Neltner.
All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.
PLEASE STOP THE PFAS IN PESTICIDES AND PESTICIDE CONTAINERS.
THANK YOU.
JOHN ROKAS
July 24th, 2024 at 4:05 pmEPA is suppose to protect the public not the greedy Corporations
July 24th, 2024 at 5:12 pmWe must stop the continued use of ‘forever chemicals’. Studies have shown that the broad use of PFAS chemicals, and the resulting environmental contamination, has devastating impacts on public health, wildlife, and pollinators. Despite acknowledging PFAS as an urgent public health and environmental issue, EPA has upheld hundreds of registrations of pesticide ingredients that fall into the PFAS category.
I urge caution and reason when agencies consister the future aproval of all chemicals and food or product containers that contain these ‘forever chemicals’. People, animals, and nature are not immune to the accumulated buildup of harmfull chemicals in our structures.
July 24th, 2024 at 11:46 pmPFAS chemicals are a danger to humans and all other life. PFAS are not necessary and should be banned from both production and usage. Industry profits do not warrant a threat to life.
July 25th, 2024 at 7:10 amThe companies that started making PTA’s via leaked and turned over internal documents show they knew the chemical was extremely toxic and a “forever” chemical like agent orange. The birth defects and other things pass down the generations. We need to get these chemicals out of everything as over 95% of all Americans will show traces of pfas’ in their blood thanks to 3M and DuPont knowingly producing and unsafe chemical while claiming it is safe.
July 27th, 2024 at 8:16 pmOMG! You are allowing PFAS in pesticides and pesticides containers, making pesticides even more deadly to farmworkers and endangering the health of all of us! STOP PFAS NOW!
July 27th, 2024 at 11:20 pmtake action
November 15th, 2024 at 7:39 amno more turning away
we know whats happening
it’s being felt each day.
We must stand together
because divided we fall
This is our destiny
to become aware and change all…
That we know is wrong, but we’ve been separated
We must know this is illusion.
We must fight
Power of the People is our
Fundamental Right