Using Integrated Pest Management to Avoid PFAS "Forever Pesticides"

ICYMI: In Case You Missed It

We shared some important information regarding PFAS ("forever chemicals") in pesticides in our December newsletter you can find here. This emerging issue was front and center at this year’s Pesticides and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Conference, where experts explored the potential threats PFAS pose to people, food, water, and ecosystems.

Dr. Alexis Temkin, a toxicologist with the Environmental Working Group (EWG), presented her insightful research on the environmental presence and implications of PFAS in pesticides. Additionally, Dr. Linda Birnbaum, former head of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, delivered the keynote on the issue, with her presentation, "When a Pesticide is a PFAS."

Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce that in 2025, Maryland Delegate Sheila Ruth and Senator Benjamin Brooks will introduce a bill to phase out PFAS-pesticides in the state. Approximately 1,100 out of 14,000 registered pesticides in Maryland are PFAS-based, and some known PFAS-pesticides like bifenthrin+C and Fipronil+C are promoted for use in healthcare facilities and schools. The good news? Safer alternatives are available and already registered for use.

Stay tuned for updates on how you can help support this important legislation, which aims to protect both public health and the effectiveness of pest management in healthcare facilities across the state.

– Sean Lynch

IPM in Health Care Facilities Project Director

A Safer Healing Environment: Protecting Vulnerable Patients in Healthcare Facilities

Patients, especially children, are exposed to a growing cocktail of environmental toxins, including pesticides. These chemicals contribute to what experts call a "pesticide load," a cumulative burden of harmful substances that patients carry even before entering healthcare settings. For children, this burden is particularly alarming, as their developing bodies are more vulnerable to toxins like PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). A recent investigation revealed that over 10,000 students and staff in Maryland schools have been exposed to unsafe levels of PFAS in their drinking water, a stark reminder of the prevalence of these "forever chemicals" in our environment.

Pesticides used for pest control and lawn care can include PFAS chemicals. More than 1,000 of the pesticides approved in Maryland contain active ingredients listed as PFAS substances, further compounding the problem. Patients, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, should not face additional exposure to these harmful chemicals in environments designed for healing. By implementing a prioritized Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, healthcare facilities can dramatically reduce pesticide use and prevent unnecessary harmful exposures to their most vulnerable populations.

A prioritized IPM program protects patients by adopting safer pest management practices. This ensures that your facility is a place of healing, not a contributor to the growing pesticide load that patients face.

Media Spotlight:

PFAS and Pesticides: Exploring Threats to People, Food, Water, and Ecosystems

Our keynote speaker, Dr. Linda Birnbaum of Duke University, presented about PFAS; what they are and the health implications for everyone.

During the conference, Alexis Temkin, PhD, a scientist with the Environmental Working Group (EWG), presented Pesticides and Their Forever Pieces: Environmental Presence and Implications. It was a truly informative presentation about her research on the “forever" by-products of PFAS which can also be in some of the pesticides used in healthcare facilities. Dr. Temkin co-authored a paper recently published in Environmental Health Perspectives on the presence of PFAS in pesticides, and the implications for public health and policy. This talk focused on the presence of these chemicals, as well as their degradation products, primarily the ultra-short chain PFAS trifluoroacetic acid, or TFA, in the environment, including our water and food.

Please watch these excellent and informative presentations that have implications in healthcare and in all our lives.

The IPM in Health Care Facilities Project promotes safer pest and weed management best practices that are effective and protect the public and environment. Exposure to harmful pesticides can cause or exacerbate the very issues for which patients/residents are being treated. We are dedicated to keeping you updated on important news and research. We support your efforts to ensure a protected and toxic-free environment for your facility and those you serve —

and ALL our IPM in Health Care Facilities Project services are FREE.

For information and help,

Sean@mdpestnet.org or

call 301-664-4374

Our services are always free.

Visit our website for resources