Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Forever Pesticides: A Growing Source of PFAS Contamination in the Environment. |
| Authors: |
Donley, Nathan1 ndonley@biologicaldiversity.org, Cox, Caroline2, Bennett, Kyla3, Temkin, Alexis M.4, Andrews, David Q.4, Naidenko, Olga V.4 |
| Source: |
Environmental Health Perspectives. Jul2024, Vol. 132 Issue 7, p075003-1-075003-15. 15p. |
| Subject Terms: |
*PESTICIDE analysis, *ENVIRONMENTAL health, *DRUG adulteration, *COMMUNICABLE diseases, *RISK assessment, *ENVIRONMENTAL monitoring, *PHENOMENOLOGICAL biology, *ECOSYSTEMS, *BIOCHEMISTRY, *DESCRIPTIVE statistics, *FEDERAL government, *ENVIRONMENTAL exposure, *MOLECULAR structure, *POLLUTANTS, *POLLUTION, *WATER, *COMMUNICATION, *WATER pollution, *HEALTH education, *GREENHOUSE gases, *COMPARATIVE studies, *FLUOROCARBONS, *AGRICULTURE, *DISEASE risk factors |
| Geographic Terms: |
CANADA, UNITED States |
| Abstract: |
BACKGROUND: Environmental contamination by fluorinated chemicals, in particular chemicals from the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) class, has raised concerns around the globe because of documented adverse impacts on human health, wildlife, and ecosystem quality. Recent studies have indicated that pesticide products may contain a variety of chemicals that meet the PFAS definition, including the active pesticide ingredients themselves. Given that pesticides are some of the most widely distributed pollutants across the world, the legacy impacts of PFAS addition into pesticide products could be widespread and have wide-ranging implications on agriculture and food and water contamination, as well as the presence of PFAS in rural environments. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this commentary is to explore different ways that PFAS can be introduced into pesticide products, the extent of PFAS contamination of pesticide products, and the implications this could have for human and environmental health. METHODS: We submitted multiple public records requests to state and federal agencies in the United States and Canada and extracted relevant data from those records. We also compiled data from publicly accessible databases for our analyses. DISCUSSION: We found that the biggest contributor to PFAS in pesticide products was active ingredients and their degradates. Nearly a quarter of all US conventional pesticide active ingredients were organofluorines and 14% were PFAS, and for active ingredients approved in the last 10 y, this had increased to 61% organofluorines and 30% PFAS. Another major contributing source was through PFAS leaching from fluorinated containers into pesticide products. Fluorination of adjuvant products and "inert" ingredients appeared to be limited, although this represents a major knowledge gap. We explored aspects of immunotoxicity, persistence, water contamination, and total fluorine load in the environment and conclude that the recent trend of using fluorinated active ingredients in pesticides may be having effects on chemical toxicity and persistence that are not given adequate oversight in the United States. We recommend a more stringent risk assessment approach for fluorinated pesticides, transparent disclosure of "inert" ingredients on pesticide labels, a complete phase-out of post-mold fluorination of plastic containers, and greater monitoring in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|
Copyright of Environmental Health Perspectives is the property of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| Database: |
Academic Search Complete |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests. |
Login for full access.
|
