A worrying link between a widely used EU-approved pesticide and brain development in children has been uncovered by researchers at Stockholm University. The study reveals that fluazinam, a fungicide commonly applied to potatoes and apples, may have damaging effects on young brains, directly contradicting previous findings that informed its initial approval.
Fluazinam, a type of PFAS fungicide, was granted EU approval in 2008 after a safety evaluation. Today, it remains widely used across the continent – 340 tonnes were sold in Germany alone in 2024. The pesticide is primarily deployed to manage soil-borne fungal pathogens affecting crops like potatoes and apples. Following Brexit, fluazinam's use was carried over into the UK's approved active substance register, where its authorisation stands until 2029.
The Stockholm University study re-examined raw data from a 2005 study conducted by Huntingdon Life Sciences on behalf of ISK, fluazinam's manufacturer. While the original report concluded no statistically significant effects on brain development in offspring exposed to the pesticide during pregnancy, the new analysis identified six instances where exposure led to significant impacts on brain development – including decreases in brain weight and width.
The authors of the study expressed strong views on their findings, stating it was "impossible" to reach the original conclusions based on the raw data. They deemed effects on brain weight, width, and morphometrics as severe and argued that a safe level of exposure cannot be established due to the potential lifelong consequences.
These revelations have sparked calls for urgent action. Dr Angeliki Lysimachou, head of science and policy at Pesticide Action Network (Pan) Europe, criticised the handling of the initial study, stating it was "withheld from regulators and shielded from proper scrutiny." She added that this situation represents "a breach of both legal obligations and scientific integrity that demands an urgent investigation, full accountability for those responsible, and the immediate withdrawal of fluazinam from the market."
Antoine Bailleux, a professor of EU law at UCLouvain in Belgium, concurred, noting that failing to report statistical significance regarding developmental neurotoxicity would constitute a breach of EU pesticide regulations. The study authors themselves argue that given the potential effects, fluazinam should not have been approved.