December 12th, 2017
Chlorpyrifos is the most commonly used insecticide in the United States – an estimated 20 to 25 million tons are applied annually. The organophosphate pesticide is sold in more than 800 different products, but is most commonly known as DursbanÒ (home and commercial use) and LorsbanÒ (agricultural use). Domestic use accounts for nearly 50% of chlorpyrifos applications. People use it in and around their homes to control termites, lawn insects, ants, cockroaches, fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. Farmers use chlorpyrifos on more than 50 types of crops including corn, apples, tomatoes, oranges, grapes, cotton, alfalfa, and berries. Chlorpyrifos is so popular in part because its chemical stability and persistence reduce the need for repeated application. However, this persistence also enhances the likelihood of prolonged exposure.