EPA Approves Atrazine Use, Citing No Extinction Risk to Wildlife
EPA clears a weedkiller, saying it won’t push protected species to extinction
The Boston Globe
Image: The Boston Globe
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that atrazine, a widely used herbicide, does not threaten endangered species, allowing its continued use. This decision, which contradicts previous EPA findings, has sparked outrage among environmental groups while being celebrated by agricultural organizations that argue it is vital for crop production.
- 01Atrazine is applied at an average of 72 million pounds annually across 75 million acres of crops, primarily corn.
- 02The herbicide's primary manufacturer is Syngenta, a subsidiary of the Chinese conglomerate Sinochem.
- 03Environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, have criticized the findings, claiming they underestimate atrazine's impact on endangered species.
- 04The decision follows a previous EPA assessment that indicated atrazine could harm over 1,000 protected species.
- 05The agricultural lobby argues that banning atrazine could significantly decrease crop yields and increase food prices.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced that atrazine, a widely used herbicide primarily on corn and other crops, does not pose an extinction risk to endangered species. This conclusion allows for the continued application of atrazine, which has been a contentious topic in agricultural policy. Farmers utilize an estimated 72 million pounds of atrazine annually across 75 million acres of farmland, particularly for corn, sorghum, and sugar cane. Agricultural groups, such as the Farm Bureau Federation and the National Corn Growers Association, view this decision as a victory, arguing that losing access to atrazine could lead to reduced crop yields and increased food costs. However, this finding has drawn ire from environmental advocates, who cite atrazine's links to hormonal disruptions in wildlife and contamination of water sources. Nathan Donley, from the Center for Biological Diversity, criticized the review, stating that the proposed mitigations are inadequate for protecting endangered species. This ruling diverges from a 2021 EPA assessment that indicated atrazine could harm over 1,000 protected species, highlighting the ongoing conflict between agricultural interests and environmental protections.
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The approval of atrazine's continued use may affect agricultural practices and food prices, particularly in regions reliant on corn production.
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