acephate

[ as-uh-feyt ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a white solid compound, C 4 H 10 NO 3 PS, used as an insecticide against a wide range of plant pests, including aphids, budworms, and tent caterpillars.

Word History and Origins

Origin of acephate¹

ace(tyl) + ph(osphor-) + -ate ²

Example Sentences

When you bite into a piece of celery, there’s a fair chance that it will be coated with a thin film of a toxic pesticide called acephate.

From Salon

Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed easing restrictions on acephate.

From Salon

The federal agency’s assessment lays out a plan that would allow 10 times more acephate on food than is acceptable under the current limits.

From Salon

After exposing groups of cells to the pesticide, the agency found “little to no evidence” that acephate and a chemical created when it breaks down in the body harm the developing brain, according to an August 2023 EPA document.

From Salon

The EPA is moving ahead with the proposal despite multiple studies linking acephate to developmental problems in children and lab rats, and despite warnings from several scientific groups against using the new tests on cells to relax regulations, interviews and records reviewed by ProPublica show.

From Salon