California, the largest agricultural producer in the United States, will track farm pesticides that contain PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals, under legislation signed this week by Governor Gavin Newsom.
The law requires the state Department of Pesticide Regulation to show whether agricultural pesticides contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances when it reports their use in its public database, and to track trends in PFAS pesticide use. California grows nearly half of US vegetables and more than three-quarters of its fruits and nuts.
"This will give the state the opportunity to start analyzing what's being used, applied where, and how to move forward to get rid of it," said Monica Amarelo of the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group that backed the bill. Environmental groups hope better data will lead to more regulation.
An earlier version of the bill, sponsored by Burbank Democrat Nick Schultz, would have barred state regulators from approving new pesticides containing PFAS. That version was widely opposed by farm groups and was scaled back to the tracking requirement.
Research has linked PFAS exposure to health effects including cancer, high cholesterol and immune system effects, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The chemicals are also used in water-repellent clothing, firefighting foam and non-stick cookware.
The story is based on a report carried by AgroPages.
Photo: Gene Daniels, US National Archives / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Source: AgroPages
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