The US Environmental Protection Agency has quietly approved the use of three new PFAS pesticides to kill insects on the nation’s crops. An additional two “forever chemical” pesticides were approved in November 2025, for a total of five during the second Trump administration.
Concerns Over Toxicity
Nearly 40% of nonorganic fruits and vegetables grown in California already contain traces of PFAS pesticides, according to a March report. The EPA itself says perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are linked to a higher risk of cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, reproductive and developmental disruptions, and damage to the immune system.
Despite public fears and scientific warnings about the dangers of PFAS to human health, the administration has already delayed or rolled back strict rules set by the Biden administration on levels of toxic PFAS in drinking water.
Industry Influence
Critics say the Trump administration’s actions are influenced by industry ties, with former industry lobbyists holding key positions within the EPA. The agency’s deviation from the global scientific consensus in defining PFAS reflects the “deep level of industry capture at the agency and the willingness of political appointees to succumb to that pressure,” according to Alexandra Munoz, an independent toxicologist.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
