(Beyond Pesticides, July 23, 2026) The unintended consequences of pesticide dependency once again emerge as new research out of University of California, Davis finds sublethal adverse effects to sturgeon fish exposed to the widely used insecticide bifenthrin in their natural habitats. A study published in Environmental Research concludes that “sublethal bifenthrin exposure impairs locomotion and motor coordination” in Green and White Sturgeon populations. These findings are important given that bifenthrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, is one of the most popular mosquito control pesticides, and it is broadly used for insects in homes, gardens, and agriculture. The preponderance of scientific evidence—in addition to lax chemical company accountability for hazard warnings resulting from the Monsanto v. Durnell Supreme Court ruling in June—continues to galvanize concerned individuals, including decisionmakers, researchers, and organizations nationwide who are advocating for alternatives to the chemical-intensive practices. Because of acute toxicity to fish and aquatic organisms, the bifenthrin label contains a strict warning: “This pesticide is extremely toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters.” Because pesticides applied for mosquito control and others are used to move off of […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 22, 2026) A study of aquatic macroinvertebrates, including insects in their nymph and larval stages, snails, worms, crayfish, and clams, finds that pesticide exposure leads to biodiversity declines. Published in Environment International, this research also finds that multiple stressors and chemical mixtures increase ecosystem effects. “The individual and interactive impacts of pesticide contamination and other environmental stressors on freshwater macroinvertebrates remain insufficiently quantified under real-world, multi-stressor conditions,” the authors note. This research addresses that gap, identifying pesticide pollution as a threat to aquatic organisms and ecosystem functioning. In studying the Wei River Basin, one of the most intensively managed agricultural and urban regions in China, the data reveals that “pesticides contributed more than 40% to both [Alpha] α-diversity loss (species richness) and [Beta] β-diversity nestedness [hierarchical interconnectedness], exceeding the combined effect of the other factors that were considered.” Additional results, such as interactive effects between pesticides and land use, show that during the dry season there is “a 2.1-fold increase in functional sensitivity and a 56% rise in interaction contributions.” Ecological harm thresholds are also highest for the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid, followed by the herbicides hexazinone, atrazine, and simazine. Study Importance Freshwater ecosystems, such as lakes, rivers, […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 21, 2026) A literature review in Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research highlights research connecting pesticide exposure to thyroid hormone alterations and thyroid carcinogenesis (cancer). Studies find that exposure to pesticides, whether through occupational, residential, or dietary routes, can lead to endocrine disruption, thyroid dysfunction, and neoplasia (tumor development). “With agriculture playing an essential role in meeting worldwide demands for food and fuel, it is not only important to continue to study both acute and chronic effects of pesticide exposure on thyroid function, both environmental and occupational, but it is also important to explore the impact on multi-organ systems and transgenerational toxicity,” the authors, from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, state. According to the American Thyroid Association, an estimated 20 million Americans currently have some form of thyroid disease, with more than 12% of the U.S. population expected to develop a condition during their lifetime. Women also face disproportionate risks, as they are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems. During her lifetime, one in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology explains that the thyroid gland, while relatively small, plays a large […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 17, 2026) It is now well established that frequent exchange of signaling between the brain and the gut is a crucial feature of human mental and physical health. External chemicals introduced through the digestive system affect the gut microbiome, which in turn influences the brain. Perhaps the most ubiquitous and pernicious bad actor in the large cast of pesticides shown to disrupt the gut-brain axis is the weed killer glyphosate. A team from the University of Cork in Ireland has published an innovative study whose results, while subtle, reaffirm that pesticides, and glyphosate in particular, affect behaviors in mice that are important for social relations, learning, and reproduction. Numerous pesticides disrupting the gut-brain axis are implicated in immune disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, autism spectrum disorder, and many other diseases. See Beyond Pesticides’ Gut-Brain-Axis Archives for more detail. Because of the mounting awareness of the gut-brain axis, a renewed focus in psychiatry on the behavioral consequences of exposure to environmental chemicals is emerging. The study, published in the June 16 issue of Molecular Psychiatry, finds that the accepted reference dose of glyphosate affects male mice, increasing anxiety and altering social interactions, while female mice mostly move around less than […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 15, 2026) Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey and Portland and Oregon State Universities, in a study reported in Marine Pollution Bulletin, find that pesticide exposure, including the herbicide atrazine and fungicide carbendazim, found in combination with the herbicide diuron in the environment, significantly impacts reproductive organ development in sea anemone (Anthopleura elegantissima), an important organism in the marine environment. “Sea anemone [is] any member of the invertebrate order Actiniaria (class Anthozoa, phylum Cnidaria), soft-bodied, primarily sedentary marine animals resembling flowers,” according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, marine ecosystems store about 15 times more carbon emissions than terrestrial and soil ecosystems, while “oceans represent 95 percent of the [planet’s] biosphere.” Sea anemones are critical to protecting marine biodiversity by acting like microhabitats for small invertebrates such as opalescent nudibranchs and amphipods (beneficial crustaceans), serving as a food source for marine predators including sea stars and slugs, contributing to nutrient cycling by consuming passing crustaceans, among other benefits. (See here, here, here, and here.) For example, sea anemones provide protection and nutrients to Red Sea clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus), and in return these fish offer a nature-based solution to ventilation, nitrogen, and carbon to the host and its […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 14, 2026) “Around the world, children are born into a landscape where the doubling of pesticide use since 1990 has made these chemical substances ubiquitous in our soil and food,” said George Laryea-Adjei, PhD, UNICEF Global Program Division Director at the release of a new report—Underestimated and Overlooked: The Silent Impact of Pesticides on Children—published through an initiative of the United Nations Children’s Fund. He continued: “This report reveals a reality that is as urgent as it is ‘silent’: the profound impact of pesticides on the health and rights of the world’s most vulnerable citizens: children.” Many important truths in this report speak to the advocates, public health professionals, and concerned families across the globe who are researching, writing, teaching, and advocating for public health and environmental protection from toxic chemicals. This report identifies the failure of existing regulatory structures to ensure basic protections and cites scientific evidence, investigative reporting, and litigation, concluding that synthetic pesticides are inconsistent with sustainability and human health. Main Findings This report was coauthored by UNICEF staff and numerous stakeholder groups, including nonprofits, regulators, and academic institutions. The authors cite numerous data sources, including existing peer-reviewed science, World Health Organization (WHO) and […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 13, 2026) In the wake of the June U.S. Supreme Court decision proclaiming the safety of pesticides registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and rejecting the long-standing right of those harmed to hold chemical companies accountable for failing to warn of potential product hazards, the public is urging EPA to meet its statutory duty to test for the widespread adverse effects of endocrine disrupting pesticides. (See also here.) The endocrine system controls the development and functioning of organ systems, while pesticides that have endocrine disrupting effects are linked to cancer and a wide range of chronic adverse effects. Despite this, the 7-2 majority of Supreme Court justices finds, “EPA must evaluate a pesticide and its proposed label—and must determine that the proposed label includes all warnings necessary and adequate to protect human health and the environment, and is not false or misleading.” The court opinion goes on to say that EPA’s decision to allow the marketing of pesticide products is “prima facie” evidence of a complete and thorough review and determination of safety. In their dissent, Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Neil Gorsuch said, in agreement with an amicus brief filed by former top EPA officials, […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 10, 2026) An article titled “The science of staying bite-free: Balancing natural essential oils, DEET safety and permethrin,” calls attention to insect management options and the subsequent consequences for health and the environment. “While DEET has long been the go-to standard for warding off bugs, concerns over its strong chemical scent, greasy feel, and ability to dissolve plastic gear and synthetic fabrics have driven a massive surge in alternative options,” the article says. The use of DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) dates back to 1946 when it was developed by the U.S. military and is the most common and widely used active ingredient in commercial insect repellents applied to the skin with a warning to wash off when indoors and take special precautions with use on children. Despite widespread use, long-standing and mounting scientific evidence finds adverse effects with exposure to DEET and other insect repellents like the synthetic pyrethroid permethrin. Health Risks While regulatory bodies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claim insect repellents are safe for the general public, research connects DEET and permethrin to a wide array of adverse health effects. Cases of severe reactions, such as neurological symptoms or seizures, have also occurred. Beyond Pesticides’ […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 9, 2026) In a study published in PLOS One, researchers identify “ecological cascades triggered by intensive, calendar-based pesticide applications,” resulting in “agricultural pesticide regimes [that] fundamentally restructure insect foraging networks through complex, poorly understood community-level pathways.” In comparing chemical-intensive apple orchards with adjacent pesticide-free cemeteries, this study documents the impacts on insect biodiversity with exposure to pesticides, noting that in areas without pesticide applications insect abundance and richness is higher and plant-pollinator networks are stronger. When applying pesticides during peak insect activity, apple orchards create ecological traps and insect pollinator foraging network disruption with cascading effects through the ecosystem that extend beyond acute toxicity. As the authors explain: “The resulting exposure drives sublethal behavioural changes, forcing insects into narrower dietary niches and collapsing the complex web of plant-pollinator interactions. The final outcome is a functionally homogenized insect community, stripped of its diversity and resilience.” To sustain ecological integrity and insect biodiversity, as well as the subsequent ecosystem services they provide, such as pollination, pesticide-free habitats are essential. This study adds to the wide body of science that supports the urgent need for a widescale transition to organic agriculture and land management. Study Importance and Background Nontarget and […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 8, 2026) This piece reports on yet additional new studies linking pesticides to breast cancer. Numerous recent reviews make it clear that pesticide exposure per se raises the risk of breast cancer, across a wide swath of pesticide types. One would think that with the body of science linking breast cancer with pesticide exposure, covered extensively by Daily News and the Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database, a scientific-based regulatory system would respond with a sense of urgency. And yet, that is not the case, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes “acceptable” rates of disease for individual chemicals or chemical families, but does not evaluate patterns of disease linked to multiple chemical exposure. And so, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in U.S. women, and women turn to medical intervention with drugs, early surgical intervention, and targeted radiation. Yet, the disease, principally associated with environmental rather than hereditary factors, and treatment cause severe disruption to the lives of women and their loved ones and are devastating to quality of life, while clinical responses can have adverse side effects. Many different pesticides affect cellular processes and structures, including alteration of genetic material, endocrine disruption, cell apoptosis, cell […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 7, 2026) An analysis of scientific literature on pesticide contamination in infant formula reveals a public health issue of food safety for young children with potential lifelong impacts, as published in Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. Through a systematic review of research from 1975 to 2025, the authors, from the Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases at the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), find residues of pesticides that are linked to deleterious health impacts in infant formula, including insecticides such as organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, and neonicotinoids, and many herbicides. As the researchers share, the results highlight that: “[T]he contamination of infant formula does not concern a single class of substances, but manifests itself as a heterogeneous and simultaneous set of risks: pesticide residues, heavy metals, persistent environmental contaminants, mycotoxins and compounds released from packaging materials can coexist within the same product. This co-presence of contaminants of different origins confirms that the problem cannot be traced back to a single critical point, but reflects a complex supply chain context, in which each stage—from raw material production to industrial processes, storage and packaging—can contribute to the infant’s final exposure.” In confirming the presence of multiple pesticides within infant formula, […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 6, 2026) In response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June preventing lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers for their failure to display a cancer (and other chronic effects) warning on their products, two members of Congress moved quickly last week with a bill to reverse the decision. U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced the People Over Poison Act. The legislation, H.R. 9528, is intended to restore the right of consumers to hold pesticide manufacturers accountable under state law when they fail to warn about the full range of potential harm associated with their products. Beyond Pesticides has joined with other environmental, health, farm, and farmworker groups to mobilize a nationwide effort to educate on the legislation, which may be subject to clarifying amendments. The mobilization is asking Congressional Representatives to cosponsor H.R. 9528, the People Over Poison Act. The Supreme Court’s 7-2 ruling in Monsanto v. Durnell allows companies that produce toxic pesticides to evade the most basic of responsibilities—to warn consumers that their products may cause cancer and other deadly diseases. “In an age of deregulation, the ability of farmers, farmworkers, and consumers to hold chemical manufacturers accountable for hazard warnings is the keystone to minimum protection […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 2-3, 2026) Our call on Independence Day for freedom from the toxic chemicals that tear apart our families and the ecosystems on which all life depends is proclaimed this July 4th with even greater urgency than last year. The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court last week in Monsanto v. Durnell—releasing Monsanto-Bayer of liability for failing to warn those harmed by pesticides—enshrines in our daily lives the power of chemical companies to poison and contaminate with impunity. What did the majority of the Supreme Court justices say in supporting the right of chemical companies to poison without warning? The justices opined that, if they were to support the original plaintiff diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using the Monsanto weedkiller RoundupTM without any cancer warning on the label, it would “expose manufacturers to potentially massive tort liability for doing what EPA required.” And that is exactly what happened when juries across the U.S. issued verdicts against Monsanto amounting to billions of dollars since 2018. The justices could not let that stand. Instead, the justices, in putting the freedom of chemical companies to poison for profit without notification above the rights of people to be warned, have codified a […]

(Beyond Pesticides, July 1, 2026) A review in the International Journal of Cancer links pesticide exposure, particularly in areas with high agricultural crop density, to increased risks for childhood cancers. The team of researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska Medical Center, in analyzing epidemiologic studies published between January 1980 and September 2022, says that “this scoping review affirms that a robust body of epidemiology literature already informs how parental and childhood exposure to environmental chemical exposures can be associated with children’s incidence of pediatric leukemia and brain cancer.” The scientific literature shows that pediatric cancer, which is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children, is associated with exposure to residential pesticides, pesticides ingested through drinking water, parental exposure, and in areas with close proximity to agricultural areas where pesticides are used. Background According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, over 15,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year, with pediatric cancer as the second leading cause of death in children 5–9 years of age and the third leading cause of death in children ages 10–14. (See here.) In agricultural states, such as Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri, incidence […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 30, 2026) A peer-reviewed article, published in Scientific Reports, focuses on the link between exposure to pesticide mixtures and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) prevalence at the county-level across the United States. Alzheimer’s, a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior, accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. In conducting a novel cross-sectional analysis of data on pesticide application intensity and disease prevalence, the researchers, from the Medical University of South Carolina, are able to identify exposure clusters with significant associations to the occurrence of AD. The strongest positive associations, where AD prevalence increases as pesticide exposure increases, are “observed for a soil fumigation/nematicide system, an herbicide-dominant vegetation control regime, and a neuroactive insecticide system,” the authors note. These findings link pesticide mixtures to increased AD rates. (See the full PDF of the study here.) Study Importance and Background AD is a condition that gradually damages and destroys neurons in the brain, with disproportionate risks across the U.S. in certain geographical areas. (See here and here.) “These spatial patterns suggest that contextual and environmental determinants may contribute to disparities in dementia burden beyond established individual-level risk factors,” the researchers state. They continue, “Although AD dementia is the leading […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 29, 2026) With the release of the Republican Farm Bill in the U.S. Senate on June 23 and passage of a bill with nearly identical provisions in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 30, Beyond Pesticides and allies are calling on U.S. Senators to reject the GOP Farm Bill as drafted, citing an undermining of public and environmental health. In addition to severe criticism of the bill language, the Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Senator John Boozman (R-AR), is being criticized by farm, farmworker, health, and food security groups for characterizing the House bill as “bipartisan” and a “significant achievement” because both the House and Senate bills were drafted without input from Democrats.  U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a Senate Agriculture Committee member, said: “The draft Farm Bill released today by Senate Republicans fails to meet this moment of crisis that American farmers and families are facing. . . [I]nstead, it goes backward, by undermining USDA support for regenerative agriculture and creating loopholes for pesticides to avoid safety oversight. I will not vote for a Farm Bill that leaves small farmers without a functioning safety net, does not make healthy, clean food more […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 26, 2026) In a study published in Aquatic Toxicology, researchers in Brazil determined that the cumulative toxicity of acetamiprid (a neonicotinoid insecticide) and cyanobacteria (photosynthetic microbes that can produce toxins) has a synergistic effect on the health of aquatic water fleas, or Daphnia. The implications of these findings paint a troubling picture for broader aquatic food webs, as they serve as a bridge species across trophic levels, serving as a primary consumer of plants and algae while also providing energy to secondary and tertiary consumers up the chain. In this context, public health and environmental advocates argue that the combined toxicity of synthetic agrichemicals and naturally occurring toxins is often considered an externality (external cost) borne by the public rather than a direct cost of agricultural production or nonagricultural pest management. “When ecosystems are undermined, so are the economic systems that are relied upon to grow food,” says Max Sano, senior policy and coalitions associate at Beyond Pesticides. “The need for a wholesale transition to organic land management acknowledges this fundamental mismatch and seeks to account for these discrepancies, although policy must ensure that organic farmers have the resources they need to thrive.” Methodology and Main Findings […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 25, 2026) The Supreme Court today, in a 7-2 decision, issued a ruling that prohibits, under current federal law, the right of those harmed by pesticides to sue manufacturers for their failure to warn consumers of potential hazards on their product labels. The decision effectively shields manufacturers from failure to warn lawsuits. See opinion here. “The Court’s decision today is a tragic setback for public and environmental health, allowing companies that produce toxic pesticides to evade the most basic of responsibilities, warning consumers that their products may cause cancer and other deadly diseases,” said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, a national health and environmental group. “In an age of deregulation, the ability of farmers, farmworkers, and consumers to hold chemical manufacturers accountable for hazard warnings is the keystone to minimum protection of public health, as demand in the market for the safest possible products grows daily,” Mr. Feldman continued. The Supreme Court case, Monsanto v. Durnell [24-1068], pits the manufacturer of the weed killer glyphosate, sold as RoundupTM, against a cancer patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who was awarded $1.25 million in 2023 because the product label information provided no warning. The decision will vacate, or […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 25, 2026) In a study comparing pesticide active ingredients (isolated single chemicals) with full pesticide product formulations containing added ingredients (the packaged products that can contain carriers, sticking agents, emulsifiers, etc.), researchers find the full formulation to be generally more toxic. The research evaluates acute and chronic exposures of four mosquito adulticide active ingredients (AIs), three product formulations, and one biological larvicide pesticide formulation containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) on honey bee larvae in vitro and finds that three of the four exceed levels of concern (LOCs) set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA publishes Guidance for Assessing Pesticide Risks to Bees in which it identifies levels of harm. The scientists who conducted the study, published in Environmental Challenges, are based at the University of Florida and Auburn University. This study references Bti (Vectobac12AS) as the least toxic product, since the acute LD50 (lethal dose that kills 50% of the test population) is well below EPA-set LOCs. However, the study only focused on whether Bti harms honey bees. In contrast, there are some indications of its potential adverse effects on other beneficial insects, moths, and butterflies (see fact sheet here) and aquatic life, including studies […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 23, 2026) With new medications (including those containing GLP-1-receptor-agonist or glucagon-like peptide-1) exploding onto the market to treat obesity and serious related health threats, it is easy to lose sight of critical policy issues that allow the ongoing introduction of obesogenic pesticides and other chemicals (endocrine disrupting chemicals that affect metabolism and fat storage) into the food supply. The science on obesity has found that the most common form is attributable to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because there are many factors, the blame for the obesity epidemic cannot be attributed solely to diet broadly, but may relate directly to pesticide and toxic chemical exposures, including chemical residues in food, that may lead to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney failure, a breakdown of cartilage and bone within joints, and other metabolic disorders. An increasing body of research shows that exposure to certain pesticides and environmental contaminants initiates various changes in metabolism leading to obesity—not only in the exposed person, but also in offspring.   With all the media attention on a medical cure for obesity, Beyond Pesticides has launched an action to: Urge lawmakers and policymakers to support policies that contribute to obesity prevention by eliminating […]

Image: Art of Life Page submission from Jesse Yow, “Honeybee Pollinating Citrus Blossom.” (Beyond Pesticides, June 22, 2026) National Pollinator Week, June 22-26, 2026, celebrates all pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide. With a theme of “Life on a Leaf… From Bloom to Buzz! An Organic Solution for Plants and Pollinators” and in recognition of the importance of pollinators and biodiversity to a healthy environment and healthy people, Beyond Pesticides announces a week of activities and actions!  Pollinators—bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other organisms—make a critical contribution to plant health, crop productivity, and the preservation of natural resources, but their existence is threatened by pesticide-contaminated habitats! Throughout the week, we will suggest actions that you can take to promote the health of pollinators.   The first step is providing a safe place for pollinators to live, eat, reproduce, and take refuge from predators and adverse weather, which can include establishing pollinator-friendly plants as both habitats and food sources.  Monday—Juneteenth and Environmental Justice  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously stated, “All life is interrelated.” Justice for all people converges with the protection of biodiversity, health, and climate. If we are not protecting the most vulnerable in society, we ultimately adversely affect the entire society because all people are intricately linked through the web of life. By […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 18-19, 2026) Friday, June 19 is Juneteenth, a commemoration of the abolition of slavery and a celebration of human freedom. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr proclaimed. This truth raises societal concerns of continuing systemic environmental racism and institutional failures of predominantly white institutions and the need to protect those at disproportionate risk, specifically Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, from agricultural and industrial pollution. [Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom for the last 250,000 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, but it is also a reminder that justice has not historically been “swift” or complete for Black Americans. The holiday commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth, officially recognized as a federal holiday since 2021, commemorates the arrival of Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas, to free enslaved people per the Emancipation Proclamation that was issued two and a half years prior. While June 19, 1865, does not mark the legal end of slavery nationwide, it was a crucial moment in the fight for freedom and continues to highlight the ongoing fight for human […]

(Beyond Pesticides, June 17, 2026) A study out of Michigan State University reviews robust county-level data on pesticide use and breast cancer incidence rates, determining that there are “modest positive associations” in rural counties in the United States. The findings were published in Cancer Causes & Control. Public health and environmental advocates cite the proliferation of published, peer-reviewed research, like this new study, in support of a societal imperative to eliminate harmful agrichemicals and transition to organic practices. The U.S. and countries worldwide have standards for certified organic production, similar to the U.S. Organic Foods Production Act, that establish required practices, a national list of allowed and prohibited substances, public oversight and a stakeholder board with authority over allowed inputs, certification and inspection of on-farm practices, and an enforcement system to ensure standards compliance. There is limited federal investment in growing the organic sector, despite its productivity, profitability, and protection of healthy ecosystems. The study adds to the body of science that illustrates dramatic deficiencies in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) under which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal statutes fall short in addressing the complex exposure patterns and adverse human and environmental effects, […]