Trump EPA Approves Latest PFAS Pesticide Amid Health Concerns

The EPA’s latest authorization of trifludimoxazin adds to a growing list of approved substances, including diflufenican and epyrifenacil, which critics classify as PFAS. These per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in the environment and are linked to significant health issues, including various cancers. Nathan Donley of the Center for Biological Diversity labeled the current administration a "PFAS presidency," noting that the approval timing follows a Supreme Court ruling that shielded pesticide manufacturers from certain legal challenges.

Beyond PFAS-based chemicals, the agency is facing scrutiny for expanding the use of chlormequat, a pesticide linked to reproductive issues already found in the urine of 90% of Americans. Sylvia Wu of the Center for Food Safety stated that the EPA has ignored internal company data showing tumor growth in laboratory rodents, opting instead to classify these substances as non-carcinogenic. Advocates warn that such decisions, combined with the approval for use on wheat and oats, will guarantee widespread public exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals.