It's Time to Ban Atrazine Now
A new analysis from the Environmental Protection Agency paints a grim picture for wildlife in the United States. The country's second-most commonly used pesticide, atrazine, is likely harming most species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, especially in the Midwest where its use is highest.
Sadly the findings aren't all that shocking -- we've known about this for decades. The European Union banned atrazine a dozen years ago for exactly this reason.
Around 70 million pounds of atrazine are used every year in the United States on crops, lawns, schools, playgrounds and athletic fields. And it's not just harming wildlife -- atrazine exposure has been linked to birth defects and cancer in humans.
The chemical industry is fighting hard to keep the status quo. Tell the EPA to listen to its own scientists and not the chemical companies. We must ban atrazine now.
I am writing to urge you and the EPA to ban atrazine use outright. Despite being banned in the European Union since 2004 and tightly restricted in parts of Canada, this toxic chemical is still the second-most widely used pesticide in the United States. This must change. The draft ecological risk assessment your agency has released shows just how dangerous this chemical is to the health of plants and wildlife. Any registration decision should consider all costs of continuing its use, especially since there are many chemical and nonchemical alternatives already available.
The EPA is constantly approving new pesticides and touting integrative pest-management techniques as a way to phase out older, more toxic chemicals and reduce pesticide use. It's time to start taking action; atrazine has no role to play in responsible pest management and should not be used in the United States.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
