A coalition of teachers and environmental groups sued California and Monterey County regulators, claiming they illegally approved pesticide use near schools and endangered children's health.
In short:
- The lawsuit alleges state and county agricultural officials violated environmental laws by approving six pesticide permits near Central Coast schools without properly considering health risks.
- Advocates say regulators ignored safer alternatives and failed to monitor or prevent repeated pesticide exposure at schools like Ohlone Elementary, where harmful levels have been detected since 2012.
- The Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's Office declined to comment on the pending case but said protecting communities and the environment remains a top priority.
Key quote:
“We're here to stand up for our students, because they deserve to come to schools that aren't being poisoned.”
— Brandon Diniz, president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers
Why this matters:
Pesticide exposure near schools raises serious concerns about both acute and long-term health effects on children, whose developing bodies are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals. Studies link chronic low-dose exposure to increased risks of asthma, developmental disorders, and some cancers. In California’s agricultural heartlands, where farms and classrooms often sit side by side, disputes over pesticide regulation pit economic interests against public health. Despite state-level safety assurances, repeated air monitoring has shown persistent pesticide drift in school zones, highlighting a regulatory system that many believe lacks adequate enforcement. These issues also reflect broader national tensions over how agrochemicals are regulated, where lines are drawn around public health, and who bears the cost when protections fail.
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