A new study conducted by scientists and toxicologists at the Environmental Working Group (an environmental and health advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.) took a closer look at the existence of PFAS in pesticides. The study, which was published in the journal, Environmental Health Perspectives, confirmed the presence of PFAS in both agricultural and residential pest control, including pet flea treatments.
The study was the first comprehensive study of its kind in the United States to look at “how pesticides can be contributing to global PFAS contamination,” Alexis Temkin, coauthor of the study and senior toxicologist at EWG, said.
While foods such as apples, corn, kale, spinach, strawberries and wheat are frequently sprayed with PFAS-containing pesticides, PFAS pesticides are also used in flea treatments for pets and insect-killing sprays in homes, according to the study.
“These pesticides are applied to tens of millions of farm fields across the United States in quite high quantities, and they are contributing to PFAS contamination,” David Andrews, coauthor and a senior scientist and deputy director of investigations at the Environmental Working Group, said. “The use of these pesticides may also partially explain some of the unidentified PFAS contamination that scientists see occurring in our waterways.”
Referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their longevity in the human body and environment, PFAS or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are present in food packaging, stain-resistant textiles and other consumer products such as cookware, tampons and cosmetics.
“The study provides empirical evidence of the extent of PFAS in pesticides,” Dr. Jamie DeWitt, environmental toxicologist and director of Oregon State University’s Pacific Northwest Center for Translational Environmental Health Research, said.
Some serious health problems associated with PFAS exposure include cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, liver damage and hormone disruption, according to the EPA.
An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) spokesperson said the agency will review the new report and is “committed to addressing the risks from PFAS from all sources, including pesticides,” CNN reported.
“These are hidden sources of PFAS that are an underappreciated source of contamination of our waterways, the environment and potentially our bodies,” Andrews said.
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