The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved two new pesticides containing PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as “forever chemicals”—sparking fierce opposition from scientists and environmental groups. The controversial approvals authorize cyclobutrifluram and isocycloseram for use on food crops ranging from romaine lettuce to citrus fruits, despite mounting evidence of PFAS health risks and environmental persistence.
The PFAS Paradox in Agriculture
PFAS earn their “forever chemicals” moniker through their extraordinary resistance to natural breakdown processes, persisting in the environment and human body for decades. In pesticides, this durability translates to highly effective pest control—cyclobutrifluram and isocycloseram demonstrate particular efficacy against destructive insects like the Colorado potato beetle. However, this same persistence that makes PFAS valuable in agriculture also makes them dangerous, with scientific studies linking exposure to cancer, liver damage, immune system dysfunction, and developmental disorders in children.
Regulatory Tensions and Trade-offs
The EPA’s approvals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) rely on application restrictions and usage limitations to minimize health risks. Agency officials argue these safeguards adequately protect public health while preserving agricultural productivity. Critics, however, view this approach as fundamentally flawed—prioritizing immediate crop protection over long-term environmental consequences. The timing proves particularly contentious, as the EPA simultaneously implements strict PFAS regulations for drinking water, creating apparent policy contradictions.
“Approving more PFAS pesticides amid growing awareness of their dangers is absurdly shortsighted,” said Nathan Donley, environmental health science director at the Center for Biological Diversity.
Nathan Donley
Cascading Environmental Risks
Isocycloseram presents particularly troubling characteristics, degrading into multiple smaller PFAS compounds that prove even more persistent than the parent chemical. This breakdown pattern threatens widespread contamination of groundwater, surface water, and soil systems. Environmental scientists warn that once released, these chemicals will circulate through ecosystems indefinitely, accumulating in food chains and water supplies. The EPA’s decision to forgo additional child-safety buffers in its risk assessment has drawn sharp criticism, given children’s heightened vulnerability to chemical exposure and longer lifetime exposure potential.
Key Takeaways
- EPA approved cyclobutrifluram and isocycloseram—two PFAS pesticides—for food crop applications despite significant environmental and health concerns.
- These “forever chemicals” provide effective pest control but persist indefinitely in the environment and human body, linked to cancer and developmental disorders.
- The approvals highlight regulatory tensions between agricultural productivity demands and long-term environmental protection goals.
The Path Forward
The EPA’s PFAS pesticide approvals underscore a critical juncture in environmental regulation, where immediate agricultural benefits clash with mounting evidence of long-term harm. With additional PFAS pesticides awaiting approval, this controversy signals broader challenges facing regulators attempting to balance competing interests. The scientific community’s growing alarm over PFAS contamination, combined with increasing public awareness, suggests these approvals may face legal challenges and renewed regulatory scrutiny. Ultimately, sustainable agriculture will require innovative pest management solutions that protect both crops and environmental health—a goal that current PFAS pesticide policies appear to undermine.
