EPA is on track to approve a new chemical weedkiller, a move environmental health advocates say is at odds with the administration’s “forever chemicals” goals.
The agency released on Monday its proposed decision to approve the herbicide epyrifenacil for certain use on canola, corn, soybean and wheat.
EPA’s assessment found epyrifenacil, developed by pesticide company Valent under the trademark name Rapidicil, led to increased liver- and blood-related health risks in animal studies. It also degrades into trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), an increasingly pervasive compound under the PFAS umbrella.
It would be the fifth farm chemical belonging to the broader PFAS family approved since President Donald Trump took office in January, said Nathan Donley, the Center for Biological Diversity’s environmental health science director.
