This pesticide kills bug by disrupting enzymes in their mitochondria, the part of the cell that turns food into energy. Although there are few known risks to humans from the chemical at this time, there is mounting evidence chlorfenapyr can affect other animals in the same way that it affects insects and could have significant impacts on migratory bird populations. Like DDT, chlorfenapyr persists in soil and water for a long time, disrupting the environment years after it is sprayed on crops. American Cyanamid recently petitioned the EPA to allow the use of chlorfenapyr in homes and schools and hopes to be able to spray the pesticide on dozens of other crops, including foods eaten by children like apples, in the coming years. The Section 18 program is a fraud that has mushroomed far beyond the legitimate need to help farmers control emergency pest infestations.
Children bear the risk of the untested pesticides, while pesticide companies reap the profits.
Nothing better illustrates the phony essence of the program than the surge in emergency and crisis exemptions granted for control of weeds.