health
About half of California waterways contaminated with Pfas, pesticide analysis finds
Review detects ‘forever chemicals’ in many of the state’s tested streams and rivers, including drinking water sources
TL;DR
- About 50% of California waterways tested contain PFAS pesticides, referred to as 'forever chemicals'.
- These chemicals are linked to serious health issues, including cancer.
- PFAS were found in more than half of tested sediment samples.
- A proposal to ban PFAS pesticides failed in the state assembly, but a moratorium on new approvals passed.
- California farms applied an average of 2.5 million pounds of PFAS annually on cropland from 2018 to 2023.
- Residues of these pesticides were found on 37% of all produce tested.
- The pesticide bifenthrin, linked to cancer, was detected in all San Luis Obispo waterways.
- Legislation passed requires pesticides to carry warnings about PFAS health and environmental risks.