PAN Cosponsors Bill That Would Ban the Use, Sale, and Manufacture of PFAs Pesticides in California

SACRAMENTO — A new bill in California would ban the persistent, toxic “forever chemical” pesticides that build up in the environment and in our bodies. AB 1603, introduced by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank), would ban the use, sale, and manufacture of PFAS pesticides in California in 2035. The bill would also immediately pause state approvals of new PFAS pesticides. This bill is cosponsored by Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network, the Environmental Working Group, Californians for Pesticide Reform, and the Center for Environmental Health.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been in use since the 1930s, and they are used for dozens of purposes including grease and water resistance, nonstick coatings, firefighting foams, and pesticides. They’re called “forever chemicals” because they are persistent in the environment, meaning they build up in soil, water, and plant matter. They’re difficult to clean or remediate, and as we learn more about their harmful effects on humans and the environment, more state and local governments are taking action to ban or further regulate their use.