Twenty years after officials recommended phasing out methyl bromide, the toxic pesticide remains widespread in California. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research Communications, reveals that port communities face the highest exposure risks. Between 2016-22, the top counties reporting methyl bromide applications were Siskiyou, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Los Angeles. Despite these limitations, the authors called for better coordination between federal, state and local agencies, improved monitoring and warning systems, and expedited replacement of methyl bromide with less toxic materials. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health through the Southern California Center for Children's Environmental Health Research and the JPB Environmental Health Fellowship.