When enough data are not enough to enact policy: The failure to ban chlorpyrifos

Strong evidence now supports the notion that organophosphate pesticides damage the fetal brain and produce cognitive and behavioral dysfunction through multiple mechanisms, including thyroid disruption. A regulatory ban was proposed, but actions to end the use of one such pesticide, chlorpyrifos, in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS biology Vol. 15; no. 12; p. e2003671
Main Author: Trasande, Leonardo
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Public Library of Science 21.12.2017
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:
Agricultural economics
Agrochemicals
Biology and Life Sciences
Brain damage
Brain injury
Case studies
Chlorpyrifos
Cognitive ability
Cohort analysis
Economic aspects
Environmental policy
Environmental protection
Fetuses
Health aspects
Health risk assessment
Medical research
Medicine and Health Sciences
Norms
Organophosphates
Organophosphorus pesticides
People and Places
Pesticides
Physical Sciences
Research and Analysis Methods
Science Policy
Social aspects
Studies
Thyroid
United States
ISSN:1545-7885, 1544-9173, 1545-7885
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Strong evidence now supports the notion that organophosphate pesticides damage the fetal brain and produce cognitive and behavioral dysfunction through multiple mechanisms, including thyroid disruption. A regulatory ban was proposed, but actions to end the use of one such pesticide, chlorpyrifos, in agriculture were recently stopped by the Environmental Protection Agency under false scientific pretenses. This manuscript describes the costs and consequences of this policy failure and notes how this case study is emblematic of a broader dismissal of scientific evidence and attacks on scientific norms. Scientists have a responsibility to rebut and decry these serious challenges to human health and scientific integrity.
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The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
ISSN:1545-7885
1544-9173
1545-7885
DOI:10.1371/journal.pbio.2003671