More Research Needed on Pesticides in Oregon Groundwater

By Isobel Charle, Public News Service

The amount of pesticides in the country’s water is declining, according to a new report from the U.S. Geological Survey, but experts warn the study does not tell the whole story.

Groundwater contaminated by pesticides poses many threats to human health, especially for the nearly one quarter of Oregonians who rely on private wells.

Sharalyn Peterson, staff ecologist at the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, noted despite showing a 30-year decline in pesticides, the study is misleading as it only tracked 22 chemicals, many of which are being phased out of use, and not their highly toxic replacements.

“Many of the most commonly used chemicals that we see in the Pacific Northwest, these are things like glyphosate or Roundup, 2,4-D, and neonicotinoids,” Peterson outlined. “They weren’t even part of the analysis, which I thought was really surprising.”

She added due to the Northwest’s slow-moving aquifers, harmful “legacy chemicals” like the pesticide DBCP can persist for generations. Despite being largely banned since the 1970s for causing infertility and possibly cancer, the study found it remains above safe levels in some wells.

Jay Feldman, executive director of the advocacy group Beyond Pesticides, said the study is evaluating wells based on inadequate health standards and an outdated list of chemicals from 30 years ago. He added it does not look at the effect of chemical mixtures, which can magnify their individual harms.

“We’re not testing for endocrine disruption,” Feldman pointed out. “Which is one of the major drivers of cancer and other lifelong diseases that we experience worldwide.”

Peterson argued there is a lot Oregon lawmakers can do to start addressing the problem of pesticides in the groundwater, starting with more comprehensive data collection, including testing for chemicals being used today. She added rather than having to focus on cleaning up messes, the best way to protect the groundwater is by reducing pesticide use in the first place.

“Both Oregon and Washington already have really strong organic and regenerative sectors,” Peterson emphasized. “They’re not just environmentally responsible but they’re very economically successful.”

She argued it is important to focus on municipal pesticide use as well. Portland and Eugene have both largely banned the use of Roundup on city property, which has been linked to severe health concerns including cancer as well as long-term effects on the nervous system and development.