Where It Comes From
Spraying on agricultural fields; residues on crops and soil; runoff to streams and ponds; spray drift into nearby air and dust [1][2].
How You Are Exposed
Eating treated crops, drinking contaminated well or surface water, breathing spray drift, or getting it on your skin during application or by entering fields before it’s safe [1][2].
Why It Matters
Short-term exposure may cause eye/skin irritation and nausea; repeated high exposure in studies affected the liver. Regulators set limits on food and water to manage potential long‑term risks (including cancer), though human evidence is limited [1].
Who Is at Risk
Farmworkers and pesticide applicators; people living near treated fields; infants and pregnant people are generally more sensitive to chemical exposures [1][2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Follow label directions and reentry intervals; use protective gear when mixing/applying; close windows and stay indoors during nearby spraying; wash/peel produce; keep kids and pets off recently treated areas; test private wells if near treated fields [1][2].
References
- [1]U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Fomesafen: Human Health Risk Assessment for Registration Review. Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0178.
- [2]U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Fomesafen: Ecological Risk Assessment for Registration Review. Office of Pesticide Programs; see EPA pesticide registration review docket.