November 20, 2025
The active ingredient in Roundup, glyphosate, grabs all the headlines. It’s one of the most recognized and most litigated agricultural chemicals in the world. But another chemical may pose an even greater threat when it comes to birth defects caused by pesticides: atrazine.
A recent report by the Medical Advocacy and Health Alliance (MAHA), cited by The New York Times, highlights growing concern over atrazine’s links to reproductive harm, including low birth weight, developmental delays, and birth defects due to pesticides. Although banned in the European Union nearly two decades ago, atrazine remains one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States.
What Is Atrazine?
Atrazine is applied to crops such as corn and sugarcane across tens of millions of acres each year. It disrupts weeds’ growth but also interferes with human hormone systems, especially during pregnancy.
Unlike some pesticides that degrade quickly, atrazine can linger in water and soil. According to The New York Times, it’s been found in the drinking water of an estimated 40 million Americans.
“Even at low levels, atrazine has been linked to menstrual cycle irregularities, earlier puberty in girls, and lower sperm counts in men living in agricultural areas,” said Dr. Melissa Furlong, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Arizona.
Oversight Fails to Prevent Birth Defects Caused by Pesticides
In 2020, the EPA loosened restrictions on atrazine. Although there have been recent efforts to strengthen those rules, progress has stalled under pressure from political forces and powerful industry lobbyists.
A New York Times investigation found that the MAHA Commission, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tried to highlight atrazine’s risks. But the final report was softened due to pressure from lawmakers and farm lobby groups.
“These pesticides cause reproductive damage, and we have a reproductive crisis in our country today,” said Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America.
When Protection Fails: A Farmworker’s Story
Farmworkers are often exposed to pesticides with little warning or protection. In North Carolina, José Soria suffered second-degree burns after working in a field sprayed with toxic chemicals.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared,” Soria told Univision. “Because I have two small children and you don’t know what’s happening to you. Your imagination runs wild—what’s going to happen? How will I provide for my family?”
His employer blamed poison ivy and told him to pay out of pocket for a doctor visit. Soria went anyway. Doctors confirmed chemical burns, echoing what many workers risk daily.
Even schoolchildren aren’t safe. Atrazine and other pesticide residues have been found in cafeteria food. As outlined in our report on toxins in school meals, exposure is often silent and widespread.
How Families Can Avoid Pesticides and Birth Defects
While federal protections remain inconsistent, families can take steps to lower risk.
States like California offer SprayDays alerts to warn residents before nearby fields are treated with pesticides.
For additional prevention tips, see our guide on how to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals.
The Bottom Line
From hormone disruption and pesticide birth defects to contaminated water and hidden residues in school lunches, it’s clear the risks from atrazine are no longer theoretical. They’re in our fields, our homes, and our children’s bodies.
Until federal action catches up, families are left to protect themselves from birth defects caused by pesticides.
“We have a reproductive crisis in our country today,” says Zen Honeycutt. “Do we want the American population to be able to procreate or not?”
The question is no longer whether atrazine is worth the risk. It’s how much longer we’ll allow it.
How We Help Victims of Pesticide Exposure
Seek justice with the help of our experienced lawyers. Our Dallas, Texas, pesticide law firm has battled corporate giants on behalf of individuals like you for decades, aggressively fighting to hold them responsible for dangerous chemicals and the birth defects and personal injuries they cause. If you have a child with birth defects caused by dangerous products, we can help.
Our Results
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A Philadelphia jury awarded a record verdict against ExxonMobil for failing to warn about cancer risks due to benzene in its petroleum products.
Private equity firm and co-defendants agree to pay $25M in Medicaid fraud case alleging mental health services provided by unqualified providers.
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