Illinois is joining a growing number of states that are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider its decision to rollback restrictions on the use of a harmful insecticide that threatens bees. Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide that is widely used to control pests on crops like corn, soybeans, and fruit trees, but it has been linked to negative impacts on the nervous systems of humans and bees.
In 2015, the EPA announced a ban on the use of chlorpyrifos on food crops, but the Trump administration reversed that decision in 2017. In August 2021, the Biden administration reversed course again and said it would move forward with the ban.
However, the EPA is now allowing the continued use of chlorpyrifos on non-food crops, which is still a significant threat to bees and other pollinators. Illinois is joining the push for the EPA to ban the use of chlorpyrifos entirely.
Beekeepers in Illinois have reported a significant decline in the number of bees in recent years, which is concerning since bees are essential for pollinating crops. Without bees, farmers would face significant challenges in producing crops, and the state's economy would suffer.
Several other states have also urged the EPA to ban chlorpyrifos, including California, New York, and Maryland. Illinois lawmakers hope that by joining this push, they can convince the EPA to take action to protect bees and other pollinators from harmful insecticides.
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Categories: Illinois, General