Corteva, the world’s largest manufacturer of toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos, announced it will stop producing the chemical by the time 2020 comes to a close. Chlorpyrifos, used as an agricultural pesticide on corn, soybeans, almonds, cotton, walnuts, grapes, citrus crops and more, has been shown to have seriously detrimental health effects. Sold under the trade name Lorsban, chlorpyrifos is known to disrupt brain development and cause brain damage, neurological abnormalities, reduced IQ and aggressiveness in children. In adults, the chemical has been linked to Parkinson's disease and lung cancer.
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In 2000, the United States banned chlorpyrifos from residential use after it was found to be harmful to humans. However, the Environmental Protection Agency has continued to defend its agricultural use. Last year, the state of California banned the use of the chemical completely. Corteva, which formed from a merger between Dow Chemical and DuPont, said declining sales were behind the decision to end production of chlorpyrifos.
Senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council Jennifer Sass said in a statement following Corteva’s announcement that “the end of chlorpyrifos is finally in sight.” She added, “Ridding the American marketplace of this pesticide is a huge step, but it cannot be allowed to continue to threaten the health of kids in other global markets.”
Research published in 2014 showed that pregnant women exposed to chlorpyrifos during their second trimester had a 60% higher risk of giving birth to an autistic child. A 2012 study measured chlorpyrifos levels in maternal and cord plasma of women and children living in an agricultural community, and found measurable levels in 70.5% of maternal blood samples and 87.5% of cord blood samples. Government-funded studies also show that chlorpyrifos poses serious risks to 97% of endangered animals in the U.S.
One of the most effective ways to reduce your exposure to toxic pesticides, herbicides and insecticides is to buy certified organic foods, or better yet, foods certified biodynamic.