EPA approves fluorocarbon pesticides

Link copied by Rachel Frazin - 07/01/26 6:34 PM ET Link copied NOW PLAYING Close Thank you for signing up! The Trump administration has approved three new pesticides that may be considered forever chemicals under an international definition, though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is disputing the characterization.. This week, the EPA approved pesticides that contain molecules with carbon-fluorine bonds, which can be very strong and therefore difficult to break down over time. They re all breaking down into things that are going to stick around forever, said Nathan Donley, environmental health science director at the Center for Biological Diversity. He added that the chemicals are considered forever chemicals under a definition put forward by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Forever chemicals is the nickname of a family of chemicals also known as PFAS that can remain in the environment for a very long time instead of breaking down. In addition to their persistence, many PFAS have been linked to health issues including cancer, immune system problems and fertility issues. However, definitions for which chemicals fall under this umbrella can vary, with the OECD, an organization that seeks to set international standards, taking a broader approach, while the EPA has a narrower definition. The EPA said that under its definition, the pesticides it approved are not PFAS. It was the Biden EPA s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics that, after a comprehensive public rulemaking process in 2023, officially defined PFAS as chemicals containing two or more fluorinated carbons, said an agency spokesperson, who did not sign their name in a statement sent to The Hill. That exclusion of single-fluorinated-carbon compounds was deliberate, grounded in extensive scientific evidence and public input showing that molecules with only one fluorinated carbon lack the persistence and bioaccumulation properties that all PFAS exhibit, the spokesperson added. They said that the newly approved chemicals are each single-fluorinated-carbon compounds. By the prior administration s own regulatory definition, they are not PFAS. Welcome to The Hill s Energy & Environment newsletter, I m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: President Trump on Monday called on gas companies to lower their prices, as they remain significantly elevated, though some prices have fallen, amid the conflict in Iran that began in February. Ex-EPA staffers sue after agency fired them following dissent letter Seven former staffers at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are suing the agency after it fired them following their criticisms of the Trump administration. MAHA feels betrayed after Supreme Court ruling on Monsanto, glyphosate Prominent activists with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement are raging and saying they feel betrayed after the Supreme Court sided with pesticide maker Monsanto on Thursday and said it did not need to put a warning label about a potential cancer risk associated with its Roundup weedkiller. Energy Department issues emergency orders for mid-Atlantic power grid amid heat wave As an electric grid operator warns of potential power shortages amid this week s heat wave, the Trump administration is issuing emergency orders aiming to maximize output. News we ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: Supreme Court hands Trump new power over independent agencies that oversee energy development (E&E News) Judges strike down Trump administration student loan forgiveness overhaul Two federal judges on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from implementing new restrictions on a student loan forgiveness program that would have barred public service workers from receiving debt relief if their employers are deemed to have a substantial illegal purpose. The rulings, issued by Biden-appointed judges in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., came just one day before the new eligibility rules were set to take effect. Read more Trump responds to eye-popping report on crypto profits while president President Trump on Wednesday distanced himself from his recently released personal financial disclosures showing more than $1 billion in revenue from cryptocurrency sales and other ventures. Read more Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

EPA approves fluorocarbon pesticides

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