A new report says pesticides are being sprayed on national wildlife refuges.

(Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images)

At a Glance

There are562 national wildlife refuges, includingmore than 280protected under the Endangered Species Act.Several lawsuits have been filed against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over agricultural practices on wildlife refuges.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals are being sprayed on national wildlife refuges across the United States, a new report says.

An estimated , including corn, soybeans and sorghum grown in national wildlife refuges in 2016, according to a press release.

The analysis for the Center for Biological Diversity's reportwas conducted after obtaining records underthe Freedom of Information Act.

“These refuges are supposed to be a safe haven for wildlife, but they’re becoming a dumping ground for poisonous pesticides,” said Hannah Connor, a senior attorney at the center who wrote the analysis. “Americans assume these public lands are protected and I think most people would be appalled that so many pesticides are being used to serve private, intensive agricultural operations.”

Pesticides used on commercial farming operations permitted on the landsincludedicambaand2,4-D, which "threaten endangered species and migrating birds that wildlife refuges were created to protect," according to the release.

There are562 national wildlife refuges, includingprotected under the Endangered Species Act.

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According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, cooperative agricultureis a long-standing practice on national wildlife refuges.

"Cooperative agreements between the Service and farmers or ranchers may permit grazing by cattle or the growing of grain, hay or other crops at a specific refuge," according to the agency'swebsite. "The or by improving natural habitat. The farmer profits by harvesting and selling the remaining crop."

Several against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over agricultural practices on wildlife refuges.

In 2016,more than 270,000 acres of refuge land were sprayed with pesticides for agricultural purposes, according to the report.

The five national wildlife refuge complexes that were sprayed with the most pesticides for agricultural purposes in 2016 are:

• Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complexin California and Oregon (236,966 pounds)

• Central Arkansas Refuges Complex (48,725 pounds)

• West Tennessee Refuge Complex (22,044 pounds)

• Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Complex (16,615 pounds)

• Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complexon the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia (16,442 pounds)