Allegations of serious misconduct have been leveled against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by a watchdog group and a former EPA research fellow. Documents obtained from the EPA suggest that the agency may have presented false information to the public regarding the presence of harmful contaminants, specifically per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in pesticides. The claims have raised significant concerns about the integrity of the EPA’s testing and its commitment to public health.
Almost a year after the EPA issued a press release in May 2023 stating that no PFAS were found in samples of certain insecticides, new information has come to light that contradicts these claims. The watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and former EPA research fellow Steven Lasee have alleged that the EPA’s public statements do not align with its internal findings.