EPA proposes removing 72 chemicals from list of substances that can be used in pesticides

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed removing 72 chemicals from the list of substances that can be used as ingredients in pesticides, Laura Barron-Lopez reports for The Hill. "The move comes in response to calls by the Center for Environmental Health, physicians and others across the U.S. for the EPA to propose rules mandating companies disclose the 371 ingredients found in pesticide products." The public comment period on the proposal is open until Nov. 21.

Most of the 72 chemicals are on the list of 371 ingredients deemed hazardous by environmental groups, Barron-Lopez writes. Jim Jones, assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, told Barron-Lopez, “We are taking action to ensure that these ingredients are not added to any pesticide products unless they have been fully vetted by EPA.” (Read more)