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Today, more than 100 workers from farms, public health and environmental organizations are led by Earthjustice Submit a letter To the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges the Biden administration to ban chlorpyrifos. In December, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency proposed continued 11 food uses of neurotoxic pesticides, prolonging harmful exposure to children, farm workers and endangered species.
On his first day in office, President Biden signed an executive order directing the Environmental Protection Agency to review the Trump administration’s decision to dismiss a 2007 petition to ban chlorpyrifos from food. But advocates say the harmful effects of this pesticide have been documented decades ago, so the use of chlorpyrifos in food should be banned immediately. Chlorpyrifos is used on many different types of crops besides food, so farm workers will continue to face additional exposure. We’re asking the Environmental Protection Agency to act quickly and cancel all non-food uses as well.
Chlorpyrifos, which belongs to a class of nerve insecticides called organophosphates, is highly toxic and has been linked to neurodevelopmental damage in children, according to Multiple studies. Chlorpyrifos is a widely used insecticide. It is sprayed on many crops, including apples, cherries, peaches, citrus fruits, and wheat. Prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos is associated with low birth weight, lower IQ, loss of working memory, attention disorders, and motor developmental delay. It is also unsafe for workers even with the most protective gear.
The following statement is from Daniel Savery, Senior Legislative Representative for Earth Justice for the Healthy Communities Program:
“After a thorough analysis of the scientific evidence showing adverse effects, the Environmental Protection Agency first proposed a ban on chlorpyrifos in 2015. Six years later, we are still struggling to cancel the pesticide. It is time for the Biden administration to show its commitment to science, children, farm workers and finish the job. Under Trump, one of the first actions that Scott Pruitt took as director of the Environmental Protection Agency was to reject a petition to ban chlorpyrifos. When Michael Reagan is confirmed, one of his first actions should be to approve the petition and ban this toxic pesticide immediately.
The EPA is currently accepting public comment as part of its review of chlorpyrifos registration, which is required every 15 years by law. Earthjustice provided technical comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of dozens of farm workers, public health and environmental organizations. The Comment period The proposal expires on March 7Y.
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