Ban Certain Pesticides

Justification

The pesticides atrazine, metalaxyl, and the class of chemicals neonicotinoids cause negative impacts on the environment and human health. Atrazine, metalaxyl and imidacloprid have contaminated NYS drinking water supplies including the Long Island sole source aquifer; these pesticides tend to be highly mobile in groundwater. In a 2010 NYS Groundwater Assessment, the NYS DEC found pesticides and their degradates in almost half of the wells sampled. About 75% of stream water samples and 40% of groundwater samples contain atrazine, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Additionally, the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, detected atrazine in 90% of tap water samples from 139 water systems.

Furthermore, the combined effect of these and hundreds of other chemicals present in water supplies are unknown, but research indicates the mixture of pesticides could have increased negative impacts on the environment compared to the impacts of individual chemicals (Hayes et al. 2006).

Atrazine can disrupt reproduction health in frogs and possibly increase birth defects in humans. According to a study released on Monday, March 2, 2010 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that frogs exposed to the weed killer atrazine, at levels comparable to the levels allowed in drinking water by the U.S. EPA, cause male frogs to begin growing eggs in their testes. In the experiment, 10% of the males exposed to atrazine actually changed sex; some were able to breed and lay eggs. Nearly all the other males had low testosterone and sperm levels, which made them unable to reproduce.

Research reported in a New York Times article from August 22, 2009 suggests that human exposure to atrazine at levels deemed safe by the U.S. EPA is associated with birth defects including misshapen limbs and premature births. In response to the risks of using atrazine, The European Union has banned its use. Metalaxyl is classified by EPA in Toxicity Category II, the second highest degree of acute toxicity. The U.S. EPA also reports that exposure to metalaxyl impacts the liver in both rats and dogs. This indicates a potential for negative liver impacts in other mammals.

The National Pesticide Information Center (May 2010) reports that imidacloprid is very toxic to pollinating honeybees, Imidacloprid possibly contributes to Colony Collapse Disorder, a problem that results in fewer bees, reduced crop pollination, and inevitably threatens the livelihood of farmers. In animal studies with imidacloprid, the U.S. EPA found rats and rabbits experienced negative reproductive effects when exposed to imidacloprid; both mothers and pups experienced toxic symptoms including reduced bone growth in the pups.

The European Union has enacted a two year ban on the class of chemicals known as neonicotinoids because of their significant toxicity to honeybees. In 2016, Maryland passed a state law restricting the use of neonicotinoid products to state-certified pesticide applicators, citing the rapid decline of the honeybee population.

Prior legislative history

S.4833-A of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Environmental Conservation A.5529-A-of 2015-2016 (Englebright): Died in Environmental Conservation

Fiscal implications

None to the state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect January 1, 2019; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.