EPA accused of ‘egregious’ misconduct in PFAS testing of pesticides

US agency found PFOS and other types of PFAS in pesticides but failed to disclose those results, watchdog group alleges

Documents obtained from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicate the agency may have presented false information to the public about testing for harmful contaminants in pesticides, according to allegations being made by a watchdog group and a former EPA research fellow.

The claims come almost a year to the day after the EPA issued a May 2023 press release that stated the agency found no per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in testing of samples of certain insecticide products. The press release contradicted a published study by the former EPA researcher that had reported finding PFAS in the same pesticide products.

This story is co-published with the New Lede, a journalism project of the Environmental Working Group