WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Environmental Protection Agency approved a new pesticide built around isocycloseram, a chemical that qualifies as a PFAS—or “forever chemicals”—under widely used scientific definitions.
The product would be permitted for use on major commodity crops, including corn, soybeans and wheat, as well as on turf, ornamental plants, and a broad range of indoor and outdoor commercial, industrial and household settings.
EPA officials say isocycloseram provides farmers with a valuable new tool against destructive pests such as the Colorado potato beetle, diamondback moth, tarnished plant bug, and the Asian citrus psyllid—the last of which is a critical vector for citrus greening disease. The agency’s risk assessments found no human health hazards of concern when the pesticide is used according to label directions, and its biological evaluation under the Endangered Species Act concluded that the chemical is not likely to jeopardize the future survival of listed species or their critical habitats.
“ EPA’s final biological evaluation predicts that the use of isocycloseram will not result in a likelihood of future jeopardy for the survival of any listed species, or a likelihood of adverse modification for any designated critical habitat,” the EPA said in a press release.
However, EPA reviewers did identify possible ecological effects. Spray applications may harm pollinators, and aquatic invertebrates could face risks from spray, seed treatments and soil applications. Chronic exposure may also affect birds and mammals feeding on certain treated crops, such as rapeseed. Mitigation measures and geographic use limitations are being incorporated into the registration to address those concerns, the agency said.
The approval comes despite Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. having vowed to overhaul pesticide and chemical safety standards as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. The approval also marks the fifth PFAS-containing pesticide ingredient advanced by the agency during President Donald Trump’s second term, according to The Guardian.
PFAS chemicals are known for their persistence in the environment and the human body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure has been linked to increased risks of kidney and testicular cancers, high cholesterol, pregnancy-related hypertension and low birthweight. A 2023 review of EPA data found that roughly 60% of newly approved pesticide active ingredients over the previous decade meet the definition of PFAS, underscoring how entrenched the chemicals have become in U.S. pesticide formulations.