🔗 Share this article Environmental Protection Agency Pressured to Ban Spraying of Antimicrobial Drugs on American Food Crops Amid Resistance Concerns A newly filed formal request from a dozen health advocacy and agricultural labor coalitions is demanding the EPA to cease authorizing the spraying of antibiotics on produce across the America, highlighting antibiotic-resistant spread and illnesses to agricultural workers. Agricultural Industry Sprays Millions of Pounds of Antibiotic Pesticides The agricultural sector applies around 8m lbs of antimicrobial and fungicidal treatments on American produce every year, with several of these chemicals restricted in international markets. “Annually US citizens are at increased threat from harmful bacteria and illnesses because human medicines are applied on produce,” stated an environmental health director. Antibiotic Resistance Poses Serious Health Threats The overuse of antimicrobial drugs, which are critical for treating human disease, as agricultural chemicals on produce jeopardizes public health because it can lead to antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Likewise, excessive application of antifungal agent pesticides can lead to fungal diseases that are harder to treat with currently available pharmaceuticals. Treatment-resistant illnesses affect about 2.8 million Americans and cause about thousands of mortalities per year. Health agencies have associated “clinically significant antimicrobials” permitted for pesticide use to treatment failure, higher likelihood of staph infections and higher probability of antibiotic-resistant staph. Ecological and Health Impacts Furthermore, consuming chemical remnants on crops can disrupt the digestive system and elevate the chance of chronic diseases. These agents also pollute aquatic systems, and are believed to damage insects. Frequently economically disadvantaged and Hispanic field workers are most vulnerable. Common Agricultural Antimicrobials and Industry Practices Farms apply antibiotics because they destroy bacteria that can harm or kill produce. Among the most frequently used antibiotic pesticides is streptomycin, which is often used in healthcare. Data indicate approximately 125,000 pounds have been sprayed on American produce in a annual period. Citrus Industry Lobbying and Government Response The formal request coincides with the EPA experiences pressure to widen the application of human antibiotics. The citrus plant illness, carried by the vector, is destroying orange groves in the state of Florida. “I understand their desperation because they’re in dire straits, but from a public health perspective this is absolutely a clear decision – it must not occur,” the expert commented. “The bottom line is the significant problems caused by applying human medicine on edible plants greatly exceed the agricultural problems.” Alternative Methods and Long-term Outlook Experts recommend simple crop management steps that should be tested initially, such as increasing plant spacing, developing more disease-resistant types of plants and locating infected plants and promptly eliminating them to prevent the diseases from spreading. The legal appeal gives the regulator about 5 years to act. Previously, the organization outlawed chloropyrifos in response to a similar legal petition, but a court reversed the agency's prohibition. The agency can implement a prohibition, or must give a justification why it will not. If the Environmental Protection Agency, or a future administration, fails to respond, then the groups can sue. The procedure could require many years. “We are pursuing the prolonged effort,” the expert concluded.