EPA will more closely consider how people may be harmed by pesticides that drift away from the crops they’re intended to protect, the agency said Monday.
The environmental agency already considers so-called spray drift during periodic reviews of pesticides, but the latest action will extend the assessments to situations where a company wants to add new crops or other changes to the chemical’s use.
In a notice Monday, EPA said the action would apply to company petitions for new active ingredients and new and amended uses, effective immediately.
“People who live or work near farms can be unintentionally exposed to pesticides, and it’s our job to do as much as possible to prevent that from happening and to protect their health,” said Michal Freedhoff, assistant EPA administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, in a news release.
