Ban Chlorpyrifos
What's At Stake
The science is clear. Chlorpyrifos is dangerous.
Exposure to low levels of the pesticide in early life can lead to increased risk of learning disabilities, including reductions in IQ, developmental delay, and behavioral problems, such as ADHD. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s own scientific analysis showed that the amount of chlorpyrifos ingested by young children through sprayed fruits and vegetables could exceed safety levels by 140 times. Yet, Trump’s EPA refused to follow through on a previously proposed ban of the pesticide.
So we took them to court—and won. The judges agreed that the EPA’s delay was illegal and ordered the agency to finalize its proposed ban on treating produce sold in the U.S. with chlorpyrifos. But the EPA has only doubled down in its refusal, urging the court to hear its case again.
Thankfully, states like California aren’t waiting to protect the health of our children. Even Corteva (formerly part of Dow Chemical), a major producer of chlorpyrifos, announced that it will cease making the pesticide by the end of 2020.
NRDC’s lawyers, scientists, and supporters will continue to keep pressure on the EPA and Congress to stop the use of chlorpyrifos and similarly toxic pesticides nationwide.
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On March 26, the Trump administration will show us, once again, how far it will go to protect polluters at the expense of children’s health.
With the introduction of Senate Bill 458 by Senator Maria Elena Durazo, California could finally stop the use of a pesticide poisoning agricultural communities and leaving a toxic residue on fruits and vegetables, endangering children around the world.
"We observed a clear effect on the height of the cerebellum in young rats that were exposed to the substance [chlorpyrifos] while still at the fetal stage, even at the lowest tested dose."
87%
The percentage of babies in an agriculture community exposed to chlorpyrifos before birth, according to a California study
1M
The number of pounds of chlorpyrifos used on fruits and vegetables that would be cut per year if California bans the pesticide in the state
20%
The percentage of all chlorpyrifos applied in the United States that's used by California alone
$1M
Amount that Dow Chemical, the largest manufacturer of chlorpyrifos, reportedly donated for Trump’s inauguration
This pesticide, which belongs to a class of chemicals developed as a nerve gas made by Nazi Germany, is now found in food, air, and drinking water.