A UC Davis study found that Central Valley, California, residents are consistently exposed to pesticides, including a harmful one banned in California and others with unknown effects on human health.
Melissa Gomez reports for Los Angeles Times.
In short:
- Central Valley residents, including children, are regularly exposed to harmful pesticides while going about daily activities.
- Banned pesticide chlorpyrifos was detected in some participants, raising concerns about compliance with regulations.
- The study suggests more comprehensive pesticide monitoring and testing are needed to protect public health.
Key quote:
“It really highlights the need that we research the health impact of all these different pesticides that are being used because people are being exposed to a range of pesticides.”
— Deborah Bennett, lead author of the study.
Why this matters:
Exposure to toxic pesticides in agricultural regions can cause serious health risks, especially to vulnerable populations like children and farmworkers. Expanding pesticide monitoring and research is critical to understanding long-term effects and preventing harmful exposure.
