PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” have become an increasingly important environmental health issue because some of these chemicals can persist in the environment for long periods of time.
Now, California is taking a closer look at another potential pathway for PFAS exposure: pesticides used in agriculture.
A new California law, Assembly Bill 1603, was chaptered on September 27, 2026. The law requires the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to identify PFAS pesticide ingredients in its pesticide-use reporting system and publish information about their use. DPR will also be required to publish a list of registered pesticides containing PFAS pesticide ingredients.
For environmental health professionals, agricultural businesses, pesticide handlers, and communities near agricultural operations, the change highlights an important principle: knowing where chemicals are being used is an important part of understanding where they may enter the environment.
Why PFAS Are an Environmental Health Concern
PFAS are a broad group of fluorinated chemicals. They have been used in many industrial and consumer applications because of their resistance to heat, water, oil, and chemical degradation.
Not every PFAS behaves identically, and the term encompasses a large and diverse group of chemicals. California's Department of Pesticide Regulation notes that pesticide products are evaluated individually for potential human-health and environmental impacts, including their environmental fate and persistence.
The concern with PFAS in pesticides is therefore not simply about the presence of a chemical. It is also about understanding which chemicals are being used, where they are being used, how much is being used, and what happens to them after application.
Those questions matter because agricultural chemicals can interact with soil, surface water, groundwater, crops, workers, and surrounding communities.
What the New California Law Changes
AB 1603 creates a new reporting framework for PFAS pesticide ingredients.
Beginning no later than January 1, 2028, or when the pesticide-use reporting database containing 2026 data is posted, whichever occurs first, DPR must identify whether reported pesticides contain PFAS pesticide ingredients. The department must also include PFAS as a category of interest in its pesticide-use reporting and report trends in PFAS pesticide use.
The law also requires DPR to publish a list of registered pesticides containing PFAS pesticide ingredients by January 1, 2028 and update that list when new qualifying pesticides are registered.
This creates a more specific source of information for understanding how PFAS-containing pesticide products are being used in California.
Why Tracking Matters
Environmental protection often begins with good information.
When chemical-use data is collected consistently, regulators and environmental professionals can look for patterns over time. They can identify where certain chemicals are being used, evaluate potential environmental pathways, and determine where additional monitoring or investigation may be appropriate.
California already maintains extensive pesticide-use reporting. DPR also operates SprayDays California, which provides advance information about planned applications of restricted-material pesticides. The system includes information such as the intended application time, general location, product name, active ingredients, application method, and approximate acreage.
The new PFAS reporting requirements add another layer of information to that broader pesticide-management system.
Soil and Groundwater Are Part of the Conversation
One reason pesticide management is closely connected to environmental health is that what happens on the surface does not necessarily stay there.
California already has a groundwater protection program that identifies pesticides with the potential to contaminate groundwater. DPR's updated Groundwater Protection List took effect July 1, 2026, along with changes to pesticide-use reporting and operator identification requirements.
Groundwater is particularly important because it can serve as a source of drinking water and support ecosystems and agricultural operations.
For businesses working with pesticides or managing agricultural properties, understanding the relationship between chemical application, soil conditions, runoff, and groundwater is an important part of environmental risk management.
What Businesses Can Do Now
The new law does not mean every organization needs to immediately change its operations. However, businesses that use, handle, distribute, or manage pesticides can use this period to strengthen their chemical-management practices.
That can include reviewing pesticide inventories, maintaining accurate application records, confirming product information, keeping current Safety Data Sheets, understanding application requirements, and making sure employees receive appropriate training.
Businesses should also understand where pesticides could potentially move after application. Runoff, drainage, soil movement, spills, improper storage, and other pathways can create environmental concerns if they are not properly managed.
Good recordkeeping can make a significant difference. When an organization knows exactly what products were used, where they were applied, when they were applied, and under what conditions, it has better information for responding to questions or investigating a potential environmental issue.
Environmental Health Requires Looking Beyond the Immediate Workplace
Chemical safety is often discussed in terms of protecting the person handling a product. That remains essential, but environmental health requires a broader view.
A pesticide application can involve workers, nearby residents, agricultural products, soil, surface water, groundwater, wildlife, and surrounding ecosystems.
That is why chemical management should consider the entire pathway from purchase and storage to application, monitoring, documentation, and disposal.
California's new PFAS pesticide reporting requirements are one example of how better information can support that broader approach.
For organizations working with pesticides, environmental compliance is not simply about meeting a requirement on paper. It is about understanding what chemicals are being used, where they can go, and how to manage potential risks before they become larger problems.
A More Informed Approach to Chemical Safety
PFAS in pesticides is a developing area of environmental health, and California's new reporting requirements will provide additional information about where these products are being used.
As the state builds that information base, businesses can take the opportunity to strengthen their own chemical-management practices, improve documentation, review environmental pathways, and keep employees informed.
Effective environmental health starts with understanding what is happening on the ground — and having the information needed to manage it responsibly.
At Definitive Safety Group, we help organizations navigate environmental health, workplace safety, chemical management, and regulatory considerations with practical, risk-based solutions.
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