Skip to content

EPA Faces Lawsuit Over Approval of Toxic Pesticide Linked to Health Risks

A controversial pesticide just sparked a courtroom showdown. The EPA's own data warned of dangers—but regulators approved it anyway.

The image shows a cockroach in a plastic container on the grass, surrounded by a net. The cockroach...
The image shows a cockroach in a plastic container on the grass, surrounded by a net. The cockroach is in the center of the image, with the grass surrounding it.

EPA Faces Lawsuit Over Approval of Toxic Pesticide Linked to Health Risks

The petition, filed Thursday in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, claims EPA violated federal pesticides and endangered species laws by registering products containing isocycloseram, used to fend off cockroaches and other unwanted pests on farms and in buildings.

The agency in its own assessment found isocycloseram could lead to reduced testicle size, lower sperm count and liver toxicity. The agency also predicted the chemical could have adverse effects on more than 1,000 threatened or endangered species - a threat water agencies and environmentalists have flagged for concern.

Regulators said those risks can be avoided if the pesticide is used according to the restrictions on the required label.

Latest