209-million pounds of pesticides were applied to California agricultural fields in 2016. Under state law, local agricultral commissioners must consider safer alternatives tohighly toxic pesticides. But they're not... according to a new study from UCLA reseachers. Capital Public Radio's Julia Mitric has more.
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Let's say a grower wants to spray chlorpyrifos on their fields. California restricts its use because it's linked to serious health risks in children.
Local 'Ag' officials are required to consider whether safer alternatives could work instead. So UCLA researchers checked on whether that was happening. Here's law professor Tim Malloy.
[MALLOY:] "And we could find no evidence the commissioners actually do that as part of the permitting process."
Researchers say DPR, the state's Department of Pesticide Regulation can do more to make sure the safest options are considered.
DPR spokesperson Charlotte Fadipe did not comment directly on the study's findings. In an email, she wrote the agency "believes there is stringent governance of pesticides on the ground."
Meanwhile, a lawsuit that seeks to block the EPA from allowing chlorpyrifos use in agriculture heads to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals next week.
