To: EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan
We are writing to ask you to immediately ban the distribution of all pesticides that contain PFAS. PFAS are extremely dangerous and should not be in pesticides.
A study by researchers from the Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Working Group and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility has documented the widespread use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pesticides, despite assurances PEER received from EPA officials that the pesticides your agency approves do not contain PFAS chemicals.
The peer-reviewed study, Forever Pesticides: A Growing Source of PFAS Contamination in the Environment, is the first-ever comprehensive review of the many ways PFAS are introduced into U.S. pesticide products. Pesticides containing PFAS are used throughout the country on staple foods such as corn, wheat, kale, spinach, apples and strawberries. They are widely used in people’s homes in flea treatments for pets and insect-killing sprays.
As you know, PFAS are a group of 10,000 or more highly persistent and human-made toxic chemicals. They have been linked to various health issues, including cancer, reproductive problems, and immune system dysfunction. They are highly mobile and persistent in the environment, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.”
In adopting this ban, EPA must define PFAS as a compound with at least “one fully fluorinated carbon,” which has been adopted by European authorities, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Develop and U.S. entities, including the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and many states, including Colorado, Washington, Maine, Maryland, New York, and California.
We urge you to take swift action to get PFAS out of pesticides.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In a shocking development, a study by researchers from the Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Working Group and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have documented the widespread use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pesticides.
The peer-reviewed study, Forever Pesticides: A Growing Source of PFAS Contamination in the Environment, is the first-ever comprehensive review of the many ways PFAS are introduced into U.S. pesticide products. Pesticides containing PFAS are used throughout the country on staple foods such as corn, wheat, kale, spinach, apples and strawberries. They are widely used in people’s homes in flea treatments for pets and insect-killing sprays.
PFAS are a group of 10,000 or more highly persistent and human-made toxic chemicals. They have been linked to various health issues, including cancer, reproductive problems, and immune system dysfunction. They are highly mobile and persistent in the environment, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.”
For years, PEER and the Center for Environmental Health have been leading advocacy efforts, lawsuits and joining petitions to force EPA to act to PFAS out of plastic containers. We have also identified and asked EPA to stop approving the use of PFAS as additives (aka “inerts”) to pesticides. We also support a recent legal petition by the Center for Food Safety (CFS) on behalf of CFS and twelve other organizations asking EPA to ban PFAS in pesticides.
PFAS should not be in pesticides. Please sign our petition. Tell the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban the distribution of all pesticides containing PFAS and urge your Congressional members to ask EPA to act immediately on this petition.
PEER believes that EPA must restrict PFAS to only truly essential uses and that federal agencies must develop comprehensive standards to limit PFAS pollution and protect public and worker health from existing sources of PFAS.
