Farmworkers, Public-Interest Groups Argue EPA’s Approval of Streptomycin for Use in Citrus Grove Is Risky, Unlawful
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral argument on Monday challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the medically important antibiotic streptomycin as a pesticide on citrus crops.
The lawsuit, brought by farmworker and public-interest groups, argues that the use of streptomycin on citrus crops is unlawful under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Streptomycin is used to treat serious illnesses ranging from tuberculosis to urinary tract infections. The misuse of medically important antibiotics has contributed to increased antibiotic resistance in bacteria — a pressing public-health crisis causing over 35,000 deaths each year in the United States.
The widespread uses of streptomycin can also have harmful, long-term effects on endangered species like Florida panthers and San Joaquin kit foxes, who use habitat in and around treated fields, as well as bee and butterfly pollinators who are already suffering serious declines.
Legal Arguments Begin in Case Challenging EPA’s Decision to Authorize Medically Important Antibiotic as Citrus Pesticide
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral argument on Monday challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the medically important antibiotic streptomycin as a pesticide on citrus crops.
The lawsuit, brought by farmworker and public-interest groups, argues that the use of streptomycin on citrus crops is unlawful under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Streptomycin is used to treat serious illnesses ranging from tuberculosis to urinary tract infections. The misuse of medically important antibiotics has contributed to increased antibiotic resistance in bacteria — a pressing public-health crisis causing over 35,000 deaths each year in the United States.
The widespread uses of streptomycin can also have harmful, long-term effects on endangered species like Florida panthers and San Joaquin kit foxes, who use habitat in and around treated fields, as well as bee and butterfly pollinators who are already suffering serious declines.
Legal Arguments Begin in Case Challenging EPA’s Decision to Authorize Medically Important Antibiotic as Citrus Pesticide