A new legislative proposal in Maine seeks to exempt agricultural pesticides from regulations and bans related to forever chemicals, sparking a debate over public health and farming needs.
Rachel Ohm reports for the Portland Press Herald.
In short:
- The bill would allow agricultural pesticides to bypass a 2030 deadline for banning products containing forever chemicals, citing the need for more time to find alternatives.
- Critics argue this exemption could lead to PFAS contamination in food, while proponents argue it levels the playing field for Maine's farmers.
- Forever chemicals, known for their environmental persistence, are linked to health issues, and Maine leads in legislating against their use.
Key quote:
“It’s out there and it’s not just in Maine. We need time during this period to consider the research that’s ongoing as it relates to PFAS and the environment and what we can do to eliminate it. But it all takes time.”
— Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board
Why this matters:
The ongoing debate in Maine about how best to eliminate, or at least diminish the proliferation of PFAS in agriculture and ultimately our food supply is playing out across the globe. Read more about the insidious infiltration of PFAS into our everyday lives: Investigation: PFAS on our shelves and in our bodies.
