EPA greenlights “forever chemical” pesticide for dozens of crops, igniting health and environmental alarms

•  The EPA approved 10 products containing the “forever chemical” isocycloseram for use on dozens of common crops, including potatoes, tomatoes and citrus fruits.
• Animal studies cited by the agency itself found that isocycloseram caused reduced testicle size, lower sperm counts and liver toxicity, raising serious concerns about reproductive harm.
• The chemical is highly toxic to bees, with potential exposure levels over 1,500 times the lethal dose, and it can break down into dozens of other persistent PFAS compounds.
• It marks the fifth time the current administration has approved a PFAS-based pesticide, with about 60% of new pesticide ingredients in the last decade meeting the definition of PFAS.
• The EPA’s action contradicts other federal health initiatives, and the permanent, accumulating nature of PFAS in the body challenges the agency’s assertion that food residues will be within safe limits.

In a decision that has stunned public health advocates and environmental scientists, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a new pesticide for use on a wide range of American crops, even though its key ingredient is a member of the notorious “forever chemical” family. This move, which places a persistent and potentially hazardous compound directly into the nation’s food supply, represents a significant escalation in the ongoing debate over chemical safety and regulatory oversight.

The chemical at the heart of the controversy is isocycloseram. It belongs to a vast class of synthetic substances known as PFAS, an acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These compounds have earned the grim moniker “forever chemicals” because their strong molecular bonds prevent them from breaking down naturally. They persist indefinitely in the environment, in water sources, and, most alarmingly, they accumulate in the human body over a lifetime of exposure.

The EPA has signed off on 10 separate pesticide products containing isocycloseram. Their approved uses span dozens of common crops that fill supermarket aisles and family dinner tables, including potatoes, citrus fruits, tomatoes, almonds, broccoli and oats. The agency’s rationale hinges on its own risk assessment, which concluded that no significant human health risks were identified when the product is used precisely as the label directs. The pesticide is intended to combat destructive agricultural pests like the Colorado potato beetle and the Asian citrus psyllid.

Public health and ecosystem under threat

However, a closer look at the EPA’s own data reveals troubling findings that seem to contradict the agency’s assurances. Internal memorandums highlight that animal studies on isocycloseram documented reduced testicle size, lower sperm counts and signs of liver toxicity. These effects raise profound concerns about the potential for reproductive harm, particularly for the farmworkers and rural communities with the most direct exposure.

The danger of PFAS is not merely about a single exposure; it is about relentless accumulation. These chemicals have been detected in virtually every part of the human body, including the brain, liver, blood and even placental tissue and breast milk. This means exposure can begin in the womb, during the most vulnerable stages of human development.

“PFAS pesticides are agricultural chemicals that contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,” said BrightU.AI’s Enoch. “These man-made compounds are added to or are present as contaminants in widely used pesticides. Their presence is alarming because PFAS do not break down easily and are linked to serious health issues like cancer and liver damage.”

The ecological implications are equally dire. The EPA’s assessment notes that isocycloseram is devastatingly toxic to pollinators, the bees and butterflies upon which a third of our food supply depends. Studies indicate that bees near treated fields could be exposed to concentrations over 1,500 times the lethal dose. At a time when pollinator populations are already in crisis, introducing a new long-lasting threat risks destabilizing the entire agricultural ecosystem. Furthermore, the chemical does not remain stable; it can break down into at least 40 other smaller PFAS compounds, multiplying its environmental footprint for decades.

This approval is not an isolated incident. It marks the fifth time the current administration has signed off on a PFAS-based pesticide ingredient. A recent analysis found that roughly 60% of new pesticide active ingredients approved in the last decade meet the scientific definition of PFAS, indicating a deeply entrenched trend. This is happening despite a growing body of evidence linking PFAS exposure to serious health conditions, including certain cancers, immune system suppression and developmental problems.

The regulatory disconnect

The decision creates a stark contradiction at the highest levels of government. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly vowed to overhaul chemical safety standards as part of a broader initiative to “Make America Healthy Again,” promising to protect citizens from harmful pesticides and pollutants. Yet, the EPA is simultaneously approving new, persistent chemicals with known hazardous traits. This disconnect has left critics questioning the coherence and rigor of the federal government’s chemical safety framework.

For the average consumer, this news is understandably alarming. It introduces a new and insidious pathway for forever chemicals to enter our bodies through everyday foods. While the EPA maintains that residues will be within “safe” limits, the cumulative and permanent nature of PFAS challenges the very concept of a safe threshold. The agency notably declined to institute mandatory child-safety buffer zones for this pesticide, despite children’s heightened vulnerability to toxic chemicals.

Ultimately, this approval is more than a single policy decision; it is a testament to a system that often prioritizes new chemical tools over the precautionary principle. It underscores an urgent need for legislative reform, including a comprehensive reassessment of how forever chemicals are regulated and a push for the EPA to halt the approval of any new PFAS pesticides. The food on our plates and the health of future generations should not be the testing ground for chemicals designed to last forever.

Watch and discover the impact of pesticides on humans and the planet.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include: 

MindBodyGreen.com

CBS4Local.com

FoodAndWine.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com