EPA Revokes All Food Uses of Toxic Pesticide Chlorpyrifos
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will be canceling all tolerances of chlorpyrifos, effectively banning all food uses of the toxic, brain-damaging pesticide in the U.S. In April, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered EPA to get rid of all agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos or retain only those uses that it can find safe for workers and children.
Bill Freese, science director, Center of Food Safety (CFS), said that CFS welcomes EPA's long overdue decision to cancel the neurotoxic insecticide. He also said that since farm workers, pregnant people, and young children are especially vulnerable to harm from exposure to chlorpyrifos, a cancellation of this dangerous product was the only choice.