1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about the Environmental Protection Agency's recent approval of two new pesticides containing PFAS for use on vegetables. This decision poses significant risks to public health and our environment, and I urge you to take immediate action to reverse this approval and strengthen regulations on these harmful 'forever chemicals.' PFAS chemicals are known for their persistence in the environment and potential health impacts. The EPA's own scientists and environmental activists have raised alarms about the dangers of these substances. Despite this, the agency is not only approving new PFAS-containing pesticides but also planning to relax rules on PFAS reporting and weaken drinking water standards. This is a dangerous step backward in protecting public health. The scale of this issue is staggering. In California alone, an estimated 2.5 million pounds of PFAS pesticides are sprayed annually. This widespread use threatens our food supply, water sources, and ecosystems. Some states, like Maine and Minnesota, are taking proactive steps to ban PFAS-containing pesticides. We need similar action at the federal level. Of particular concern are the ultrashort-chain PFAS compounds, which are equally persistent in the environment as their longer-chain counterparts. Additionally, TFA, a PFAS byproduct, is increasingly found in drinking water and food, raising further health concerns. I urge you to: 1. Demand that the EPA immediately revoke the approval of these new PFAS-containing pesticides. 2. Support and sponsor legislation to ban the use of PFAS in all pesticides nationwide. 3. Push for stricter PFAS reporting requirements and more robust drinking water standards. 4. Allocate funding for research into the health impacts of ultrashort-chain PFAS and TFA. The health of our communities and the integrity of our food supply are at stake. We cannot afford to wait while these harmful chemicals accumulate in our environment. Please take swift action to protect public health and ensure a safe, clean future for all Americans.