The state of California has announced that a controversial pesticide will be banned from use in agriculture over the next 2 years. Chlorpyrifos (klor-PEIR-ee-foss) has been linked to causing neurologic damage in children. In fact, exposure to Chlorpyrifos has been found to impact brain development in fetuses, and also impact children’s reading ability and IQ. Recent findings by the state’s scientific review panel suggest negative health effects may be caused at lower levels of exposure to the pesticide than previously thought. The pesticide has been barred from residential use since 2001.
