EPA sued over decades of atrazine water pollution

A lawsuit has been filed against the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), accusing it of failing for decades to address surface-water pollution from the pesticide atrazine. This chemical, known to disrupt hormones and linked to cancer, is now found in approximately 25% of continental US rivers.

The contamination affects over 20% of surface drinking water intakes and numerous wells nationwide. The lawsuit seeks a federal court order compelling the EPA to establish quality standards for atrazine under the Clean Water Act, a requirement that was due in 1999.

Atrazine is the second most widely used pesticide in the US, with about 70 million pounds applied annually to croplands. Its adverse effects on hormones, particularly in developing children and wildlife, have led to its ban in the European Union and 60 other countries since 2003.

Critics argue that the EPA's current plans to manage atrazine pollution are insufficient. One peer-reviewed study indicates a plan under pesticide laws would only address about 1% of the contamination. Another proposed plan offers farmers a "menu" of actions, many of which do not actively reduce runoff.

The pesticide's mobility and persistence contribute to its widespread presence in waterways. Environmental advocates stress that a ban is the most effective solution, a move already adopted by much of the world while the US continues its use.