Environmental Groups Sue Over EPA Approval of 'Forever Chemical' Herbicide

Trifludimoxazin belongs to the PFAS class, dubbed "forever chemicals" for their environmental persistence. While the EPA claims its risk assessment found no human health concerns, the plaintiffs contend the agency ignored evidence linking the substance to thyroid tumors, liver damage, and reproductive issues in rodent studies. The lawsuit highlights that the EPA failed to account for cumulative exposure risks, particularly when the herbicide is combined with other toxic agents like saflufenacil.

Bill Freese, science director at the Center for Food Safety, described the substance as a likely human carcinogen and warned of its potential to drift and damage surrounding ecosystems. Nathan Donley of the Center for Biological Diversity characterized the approval as an immoral decision that leaves future generations to manage persistent pollution. The groups are now calling for a judicial intervention to block its application on crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans, citing threats to both farmworker safety and endangered species.