PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” because of how long they last in the environment, are present in at least 1,400 pesticides, according to a new analysis from the Environmental Working Group. The chemicals are found in products ranging from herbicides applied to corn, sugar beets and cranberries to insecticides used on livestock and pets, to algaecides that protect boat paint.
PFAS are added to pesticides to increase their effectiveness, extend shelf-life and make them easier to apply evenly. The chemicals have been linked to a wide range of health problems such as immune suppression, cancer and reproductive harms — even at very low doses. Besides persisting in the environment, they also accumulate in the human body.
For the analysis, EWG researchers searched a Purdue University database of pesticides for those that contain at least one of 55 active ingredients that meet the definition of PFAS used by Maine, the first state to ban pesticides containing the chemicals. Maine defines PFAS as “any member of the class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.” But other, narrower definitions exist.
PFAS-containing pesticides pose risks to farmworkers and agricultural communities, the analysis said, and can also run off into water supplies.
“Extensive research demonstrated that PFAS are harmful to human health even at minuscule concentrations,” Olga V. Naidenko, Ph.D., EWG’s vice president for science investigations, said in a statement. “Scientific studies show the alarming ways PFAS wreak havoc on human health, wildlife and the environment. The entire PFAS class of chemicals poses a significant health concern, and should be addressed in its entirety.”