The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to partially ban chlorpyrifos, allowing its use on 11 crops, despite its links to developmental harm in children and concerns from health advocates.
Carey Gillam reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- The EPA will permit chlorpyrifos use on crops like apples, peaches and soybeans while banning it for other farming applications.
- Scientific studies have linked prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos with cognitive deficits, lower IQ and other developmental issues in children.
- Health advocates criticize the decision as inadequate, noting safer alternatives exist and calling the continued use "unsustainable."
Key quote:
“The compromises associated with petrochemical chemical use and the public’s health are unconscionable given the availability of cost-effective and productive alternatives.”
— Jay Feldman, executive director, Beyond Pesticides
Why this matters:
Chlorpyrifos is widely used in agriculture, exposing consumers and farmworkers to its harmful effects. Despite international bans, U.S. regulations remain inconsistent, reflecting the influence of industry lobbying over public health priorities.
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