From Public News Service:
RALEIGH, N.C. - From growers of hay, mint and onions to those who cultivate apples and cherries, some North Carolina farmers rely on a pesticide called chlorpyrifos. Its use is as controversial as it is common across the country, and a lawsuit seeks an outright ban by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Chlorpyrifos, also sold as Lorsban, affects insects by causing nerve damage, and watchdog groups say it can do the same to humans. It was banned for household use in the U.S.about ten years ago. The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Pesticide Action Network have objected to its continued use in agriculture, saying the pesticide causes health problems in farm workers and farm communities, and they say the EPA has had their petition for three years without taking action on it.Those organizations' attorney, Kevin Regan with Earthjustice, which filed the suit on their behalf, says chlorpyrifos is bad stuff.
"As far as pesticides go, this is one of the worst of the worst. Science clearly shows that chlorpyrifos doesn't just poison insects, it poisons people. And our suit is attempting to get EPA to take action and make a decision, once and for all."
Learn more about how the abuse of pesticides affects NC farmworkers.