California to track pesticides containing 'forever chemicals'

California has taken a major step to monitor hazardous chemicals in farming by passing a law requiring state regulators to track pesticides containing PFAS, or "forever chemicals," due to their persistent presence in the environment. The move comes as the state—America’s top agricultural producer—seeks to address growing concerns over PFAS contamination linked to health and ecological risks. Under the new legislation, the Department of Pesticide Regulation will now identify and assess these chemicals in agricultural products. Critics and public health advocates have long warned about the dangers of PFAS exposure, pushing for stricter oversight in food production.

California, the largest producer of agricultural goods in the U.S., will begin tracking the use of “forever chemicals” in agricultural pesticides under a new law. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Sunday signed into law A.B. 1603, which requires the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to identify pesticides containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS,...