Toxic legacy: Strong resistance builds over bills to ban PFAS pesticide chemicals in Maryland

By Tolly Taylor | WBALTV | February 14, 2025

Read the full article by Tolly Taylor (WBALTV)

"There's a renewed push to outlaw more than 1,000 pesticides that contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as an active ingredient. The effort is drawing advocates who are concerned about health effects and opponents who are calling the idea misguided.

The lawmakers behind the proposed legislation, including House Bill 386, said there are far-reaching implications, claiming that removing PFAS pesticides would protect Maryland's food and drinking water. While the pesticides are used on Maryland crops, they're also sprayed as pest control in schools, hospitals and day cares.

| PFAS BILLS: A new bill before the Maryland General Assembly would ban more than 1,000 pesticides containing so-called forever chemicals that are currently used on crops, in schools and at hospitals. Lawmakers explain why they say it matters.

Almost a dozen people spoke Wednesday at a bill hearing before the Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee in support of the legislation."