FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 13, 2026
Contact:
Chandra Rosenthal (303) 898-0798 [email protected]
Andrew Sandoval, California District 5, Salinas City Council, [email protected]
Call for California Crackdown on PFAS-Laden Pesticide
Herbicide May Pose Undisclosed Threat to Health and the Environment
Washington, DC — California needs to re-evaluate the safety of a widely used herbicide, Indaziflam, according to a legal petition filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and Salinas City Councilmember Andrew Sandoval with California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). The petition requests that DPR re-evaluate Indaziflam because of newly found health and environmental risks posed by this pesticide. Indaziflam contains significant amounts of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals” that do not break down in the environment.
Indaziflam is an herbicide used to prevent seed germination and control invasive annual grasses such as cheatgrass. The California DPR approved Indaziflam (sold under the tradename of Rejuvra) in 2024 for direct soil application.
Despite being marketed as a low toxicity herbicide, there is evidence that Indaziflam has substantial health risks to people. Moreover, because Indaziflam is a non-selective herbicide, it inadvertently kills native plants, disrupts soil chemistry, and poisons aquatic life.
Laboratory tests undertaken by PEER show that Indaziflam contains two forms of PFAS subject to California drinking water health advisories. Human exposure to PFAS is associated with cancer, developmental damage to infants, and impaired liver, kidneys, thyroid, and immune system functioning. One form of PFAS found in this herbicide, PFHxS, is of particular concern because it is more persistent in the human body than other common forms of PFAS.
Citing this new information, the petition asks DPR to concur that “a significant adverse impact has occurred or is likely to occur,” in the words of the statute requiring DPR to continuously review registered pesticides for their risks. The agency has 30 days to respond to the petition.
“On one hand California tries to prevent PFAS contamination, but with the other authorizes its indiscriminate spread,” stated PEER Western Lands & Rocky Mountain Advocate Chandra Rosenthal, citing extensive efforts by the state’s Attorney General and health agencies to curb PFAS exposure. “California already bans the sale of products, such as textiles and firefighting foam, which contain PFAS and should extend that same public health scrutiny to pesticides.”
Recent California research evaluating the exposure of children in the Salinas Valley to pesticides has shown dangerous health impacts. “Studies have shown that children in Salinas are born with elevated levels of pesticides in their bodies and face increased risks of cognitive, behavioral, and mental health challenges later in life,” said Andrew Sandoval, Salinas City Councilmember. “Now we are learning that some of these same pesticides may also contain forever chemicals, adding another layer of concern for public health and the environment.”
Notably, the herbicide’s label does not mention the presence of PFAS, but the label only discloses 20% of the ingredients. Because DPR must consider both publicly disclosed ingredients and inert ingredients in its approval process, the petition requests the State confirm PEER’s independent laboratory analysis showing the presence of PFAS in Indaziflam.
“We are asking the Department of Pesticide Regulation to perform a risk assessment of Indaziflam to determine the risk to California’s drinking water, public health, and the environment,” added Rosenthal. “This agent is supposed to protect native plants but may have unintended opposite effects.”
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Examine PEER’s one-page fact sheet on Indaziflam
Compare how PFHxS is regulated across the country
See parallel pending action in Colorado
Look at peer reviewed research explaining the dangers of PFAS in pesticides
PEER protects public employees who protect our environment. We are a service organization for environmental and public health professionals, land managers, scientists, enforcement officers and other civil servants dedicated to upholding environmental laws and values. We work with current and former federal, state, local and tribal employees.