State regulators say they're tightening rules on how much California farmers can use of a potentially dangerous pesticide. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation says it will limit the annual use of 1,3-Dichloropropene, which Dow Chemical markets as Telone.
The state lists Telone as a cancer-causing chemical. The change allows farmers to use 136,000 pounds of the chemical in a six square mile area. Previously farmers were allowed to use a little more than 90,000 pounds but they could carry over unused amounts from one year to the next. The new rules prevent any carry over.
The Department is also banning Telone applications in December, when weather can make pesticide concentrations in the air higher.
More than 13 million pounds of the fumigant pesticide was used in 2014, primarily on strawberry crops.
Associated Press contributed to this story.
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