‘Brain damage’ chemical finally BANNED… but not gone for good?
We THOUGHT we were in the clear nearly 3 years ago.
Because in 2018, a federal appeals court SLAMMED down the gavel… and ordered the U.S. to stop selling one of the worst insecticides out there.
I’m talking about chlorpyrifos.
That sure sounded like good news at the time.
The only problem? We DIDN’T stop selling it.
Because the feds still allowed its use as an agricultural pesticide…
Which means it’s been making its way to us through our food supply.
It’s been found in non-organic milk, produce, and more.
Now, back in 2018, the court’s opinion was that there was “no justification” for the EPA to tolerate the use of chlorpyrifos in light of the scientific evidence…
Particularly that “its residue on food causes neurodevelopmental damage to children.”
In fact, if EPA officials had paid attention to the evidence, there’s NO WAY they could’ve ever thought that chlorpyrifos was safe.
But its creator, Dow Chemical, reportedly PRESSURED the feds to IGNORE the science… and to allow sales of the chemical to continue.
Now, the latest move by the EPA appears to have turned the tide… and things seem to be finally moving in the RIGHT direction.
But it DOESN’T necessarily mean we’re out of the woods yet.
Here’s why.
Chlorpyrifos belongs to a family of pesticides called organophosphates… whose history is the stuff of nightmares.
Chemically, those pesticides are similar to the deadly nerve gasses secretly developed by the Nazis for World War II.
And as history has shown, the Nazis showed NO MERCY in their attacks.
According to a 2012 study, exposure to chlorpyrifos results in possibly PERMANENT neurological effects, including…
- THINNER brain tissue
- LOWER IQ, and
- CHANGED behavior.
Not only that, but it’s incredibly DANGEROUS to the farmers who use it, as it can POISON them if they ingest it… inhale it… or absorb it through their skin.
The good news is that the EPA is now saying that the chemical can no longer be used on food in this country…
Because there are NO safe levels of it for humans to ingest.
It’s already been banned in the E.U. and Canada…
And it’s ALSO become the subject of several lawsuits from parents who claim that chlorpyrifos has WRECKED their children’s health!
So, this latest ban is a MAJOR step in the right direction.
But while farmers CAN’T use chlorpyrifos on food crops… it’s still LEGAL for non-food uses.
That means you could still be exposed to it via its non-food and non-household purposes, like mosquito control… in roach bait stations and ant repellants… on golf courses… and more.
Besides, we know how chemicals like chlorpyrifos can “drift” significant distances… and contaminate soil and drinking water…
So, it’ll CONTINUE to be crucial that you choose organic foods (including milk) whenever possible… filter your water…
And remain vigilant as ever.
This isn’t over yet.
To not letting down our guard,
Sarah Reagan
