A growing body of research is casting a spotlight on the potential health risks posed by widely used pesticides, prompting calls for closer scrutiny and tighter regulation. A recent report from the newly formed Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., identifies pesticides as a key contributor to chronic diseases, particularly in children.
The report focuses on two of the most commonly used weed killers in the U.S.—glyphosate and atrazine—citing concerning findings from decades of research. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has been linked in some studies to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other health issues. Though the World Health Organization classifies it as “probably carcinogenic,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains there is no conclusive evidence of a cancer risk in humans.
Atrazine, meanwhile, has shown signs of disrupting hormone function and reproductive development in animal studies. University of California biologist Tyrone Hayes has documented atrazine’s ability to alter sexual development in frogs, raising alarms about potential effects on human health. While the National Institutes of Health found no definitive link to cancer, other research has connected atrazine exposure to birth defects and abnormal menstrual cycles in agricultural communities.
Despite these findings, both chemicals remain widely used in American farming. Hayes criticized the EPA’s continued approval of atrazine, citing its own data indicating harm to over half of all species and habitats. The discrepancy between U.S. pesticide limits and stricter European Union standards has also raised questions about food safety.
In response, EPA spokesperson Mike Bastasch emphasized the agency’s rigorous safety protocols, which require regulating pesticide exposure at levels 100 times lower than where any adverse effects are observed. “We are confident that the fruits and vegetables our children are eating are safer than ever,” he said, though he acknowledged ongoing reviews of glyphosate and atrazine.
While the debate continues, health experts urge the public—especially pregnant women, children, and farm workers—to take steps to minimize exposure. Recommendations include using certified water filters, opting for organic produce, and thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables. Studies have shown that switching to an organic diet can significantly reduce levels of pesticides like glyphosate and organophosphates in the body.
As the government prepares to update its pesticide safety evaluations, the MAHA Commission’s report underscores the need for more research into the long-term effects of pesticide exposure and potential reforms to U.S. agricultural policy.
