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A fresh formal request from a dozen public health and agricultural labor organizations is urging the US environmental regulator to stop authorizing the spraying of antibiotics on food crops across the US, pointing to superbug proliferation and illnesses to farm laborers.

Farming Industry Applies Large Quantities of Antimicrobial Crop Treatments

The crop production uses about substantial volumes of antimicrobial and fungicidal chemicals on American produce every year, with several of these agents restricted in international markets.

“Every year the public are at greater risk from harmful pathogens and illnesses because medical antibiotics are applied on plants,” said a public health advocate.

Superbug Threat Creates Serious Health Dangers

The widespread application of antimicrobial drugs, which are critical for combating human disease, as agricultural chemicals on produce threatens public health because it can result in superbug bacteria. Similarly, overuse of antifungal pesticides can cause fungal diseases that are harder to treat with present-day medical drugs.

• Drug-resistant diseases sicken about millions of individuals and result in about 35,000 deaths annually.
• Public health organizations have connected “therapeutically critical antibiotics” authorized for crop application to drug resistance, increased risk of pathogenic diseases and increased risk of antibiotic-resistant staph.

Ecological and Health Consequences

Additionally, consuming drug traces on crops can disturb the digestive system and increase the chance of persistent conditions. These agents also pollute water sources, and are considered to damage bees. Often low-income and minority field workers are most vulnerable.

Frequently Used Antibiotic Pesticides and Agricultural Methods

Farms spray antibiotics because they eliminate pathogens that can ruin or wipe out crops. Among the popular agricultural drugs is a medical drug, which is often used in clinical treatment. Data indicate up to 125k lbs have been sprayed on US crops in a single year.

Citrus Industry Lobbying and Government Action

The petition comes as the regulator experiences pressure to expand the use of medical antimicrobials. The citrus plant illness, spread by the insect pest, is severely affecting orange groves in southeastern US.

“I understand their desperation because they’re in serious trouble, but from a societal standpoint this is definitely a no-brainer – it must not occur,” Donley commented. “The bottom line is the significant problems created by spraying medical drugs on food crops significantly surpass the farming challenges.”

Alternative Approaches and Long-term Outlook

Experts suggest simple crop management actions that should be tried initially, such as planting crops further apart, breeding more robust types of produce and identifying infected plants and quickly removing them to prevent the pathogens from spreading.

The petition provides the EPA about half a decade to act. Several years ago, the agency banned a chemical in response to a similar formal request, but a legal authority blocked the EPA’s ban.

The regulator can impose a ban, or must give a reason why it refuses to. If the EPA, or a subsequent government, does not act, then the groups can file a lawsuit. The process could last over ten years.

“We are pursuing the extended strategy,” the advocate remarked.