Lawmaker seeks to ban PFAS pesticides in California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — A California lawmaker wants to ban the use of long-lasting chemical pesticides in the state within a decade.

Assembly Bill 1603 would ban the use, sale and manufacture of PFAS pesticides in California beginning in 2035. More than 20 of the chemicals already banned in the European Union would be prohibited earlier, starting in 2030.

The bill would also halt state approvals of PFAS pesticides and require public disclosure.

Assemblymember Nick Schultz, a Burbank Democrat, introduced the measure in January. It was amended this week to include the ban and is expected to receive its first hearing in the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee in the coming weeks.

“AB 1603 is a vital step toward ensuring California’s agricultural legacy is defined by health and innovation, not by the accumulation of toxic PFAS in our soil and water,” Schultz said in a statement. “We are providing a clear, responsible road map for our farmers to transition away from these persistent chemicals while reestablishing California as a global leader in food safety.”

According to the Environmental Working Group, a cosponsor of the bill, almost 70 PFAS pesticides are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Over 50 of those are registered for use in California. While only 5% of all state-registered pesticide ingredients, they comprise 15% of pesticide residues found on produce grown in California.

“The country depends on California for its fruits and vegetables, but right now they’re being seasoned with chemicals that never break down,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, the group’s senior vice president for California, in a statement. “We cannot claim to lead the world in public health while allowing millions of pounds of toxic PFAS to be deliberately sprayed on our most iconic crops.”

The EPA says PFAS chemicals have been used in consumer products since the 1940s. They can take hundreds or thousands of years to break down and are sometimes called “forever chemicals.”

The working group said the PFAS chemicals’ carbon-fluorine bond is highly resistant to breaking down in the environment and the human body.

The EPA says scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain PFAS levels may reduce fertility, increase cancer risk, weaken the immune system and disrupt hormones.

As PFAS breaks down, they can potentially form other harmful compounds, including trifluoracetic acid, which the group said has been detected in wildlife and people.

The working group said PFAS pesticide use is widespread in California, totaling about 2.5 million pounds annually. Farmers used roughly 15 million pounds between 2018 and 2023, with the highest use in Fresno, Imperial, Kern and San Joaquin counties.

The group said PFAS in drinking water has drawn increased attention from regulators and lawmakers. Affected crops include almonds, pistachios, wine grapes and tomatoes.

“By the time these PFAS residues reach our plates, they have become part of a toxic cocktail that can suppress the immune system and harm reproductive health,” said Varun Subramaniam, the working group’s science analyst, in a statement. “That raises serious concerns about the long-term health risks of using these chemicals on food crops.

“The most troubling part is how little we know about their safety. We’re spraying millions of pounds of chemicals on food without understanding their full health impacts or considering what little we do know. It’s unconscionable,” he added.