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Lawsuits in California claim that a widely used bug killer is linked to brain damage in children, reports the Associated Press.
Dow Chemical and its successor company used chlorpyrifos, which is approved for use on over 80 crops like oranges, berries, grapes, and almonds.
However, California banned sales of the pesticide in 2020, according to AP. Several other states including New York have also made the move to ban it.
The lawsuits were filed together on Monday, July 12, and they allege that at least 100,000 homes in the state may need to throw out anything from sofas to teddy bears because they are contaminated with the pesticide.
The lead attorney in the lawsuits, Stuart Calwell, said its effects are lingering in Central Valley agricultural communities due to its decades of use. He claims that measurable levels of chlorpyrifos in his client's homes.
“We have found it in the houses, we have found it in carpet, in upholstered furniture, we found it in a teddy bear, and we found it on the walls and surfaces,” said Calwell. “Then a little child picks up a teddy bear and holds on to it.”
The lawsuits were filed on behalf of people from Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties. Calwell said they are seeking class-action status.