Report finding PFAS pesticides on California crops prompts a new bill

By Katie Rodriguez | Monterey County Now | March 26, 2026

Read the full article by Monterey County Now (Katie Rodriguez)

"The “miracle” class of chemicals known as PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) can do it all – famous for making pans nonstick, clothing water-resistant and carpets stain-resistant. PFAS are prolific, used in everything from deodorant and dental floss to agriculture, yet their special chemical structure is so strong it does not break down in the environment. They have been linked to cancer, found contaminating waterways and bioaccumulating in the food chain.

A report conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit environmental group, found that 2.5 million pounds of PFAS pesticides are spread annually on California farmland. Of that total, 551,108 pounds were used on crops in Monterey County between 2018 and 2023, where the highest traces were found on wine grapes (116,499 pounds), strawberries (99,972 pounds) and leaf lettuce (76,248 pounds).

“A lot of farmers, I don’t think they know that’s what they’re spraying on their crops,” says Bernadette Del Chiaro, EWG senior vice president. “The EPA doesn’t label them as PFAS.”

This content provided by the PFAS Project.