A new report reveals that U.S. regulators were warned nearly 20 years ago about the potential risks neonicotinoid insecticides pose to brain development, based on rodent studies submitted by pesticide manufacturers. These studies showed that pregnant rats exposed to high doses of neonics gave birth to offspring with shrunken brains and other neurological issues.
Despite this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to demand comprehensive data on lower doses, raising concerns about the safety of human exposure levels. The study, published in Frontiers in Toxicology, criticizes the EPA for underestimating the risk of neonics, which are widely used in agriculture and household products. The report calls for stricter regulatory oversight, citing potential links between neonic exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD.
As the EPA reconsiders occupational exposure risks, the findings add to growing concerns about the impact of neonics on both human health and the environment.
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