EPA Pesticide Program Updates 

from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs 03/19/04 

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides 



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IN THIS UPDATE: 



1)Preliminary Assessment of Worker and Ecological Effects of Certain 

Wood Preservatives Released 



2)EPA's Campaign for National Poison Prevention Week Advises Parents to 

"Lock it Up" 



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1)Preliminary Assessment of Worker and Ecological Effects of Certain 

Wood Preservatives Released 



EPA has released for public comment its preliminary risk assessment that 

evaluates potential exposure and risk to workers from exposure to wood 

preservatives containing arsenic and/or chromium. This preliminary risk 

assessment was developed as part of EPA’s six-phase public participation 

reregistration process for wood preservatives containing arsenic and/or 

chromium, and includes chromated copper arsenate (CCA), ammoniacal 

copper zinc arsenate (ACZA), and ammoniacal copper arsenate (ACA). Acid 

copper chromate (ACC) is also a wood preservative containing arsenic 

and/or chromium; however, it is subject to a voluntary cancellation 

action and is not part of this risk assessment. 



The assessment includes an evaluation of the potential risks to handlers 

and post application workers from exposure to these chemicals. It is 

important to note that, since this risk assessment is in the public 

review and comment phase, its findings are preliminary in nature and are 

subject to additional analysis. Based on comments received during the 

public comment period, EPA may develop a revised risk assessment and 

will be able to determine whether or not risk mitigation measures are 

needed. 



The Federal Register notice appeared on March 17, 2004. The 60-day 

public comment period will close May 17, 2004. The preliminary risk 

assessment will be available in the EPA docket, OPP-2003-0250. The 

Federal Register notice can be found at 

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2004/March/Day-17/p6007.htm . A Q&A 

document regarding this action will be available shortly at 

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/health_fs.htm . 





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2)EPA's Campaign for National Poison Prevention Week Advises Parents to 

"Lock it Up" 

. 

National Poison Prevention Week will be observed from March 21-27 to 

increase awareness of the danger to children of accidental poisoning 

from pesticides and household products. This year, EPA's childhood 

poison prevention campaign message is "Lock it Up," to encourage parents 

and caregivers to keep potentially harmful chemical products in a high 

cabinet out of the reach of children. U.S. poison control centers 

receive a call every 15 seconds about an accidental poisoning, with 40 

percent of the calls involving a child under three years of age. The 

National Safety Council records show that over 50 percent of two million 

poisoning incidents each year involve children under six years of age. 

In most cases, children have swallowed common household substances such 

as prescription drugs, non-prescription pain killers, vitamins, 

cosmetics, and personal care and cleaning products. These poisonings 

also involve house plants, tobacco products, and alcohol. 



National Poison Prevention Week was first authorized by Congress in 1961 

with the theme, "Children Act Fast...So Do Poisons!" Many poisonings 

happen when adults are distracted for just a few moments by the 

telephone or doorbell, which is why locking chemical products up is so 

important. During Poison Prevention Week, local area Washington, DC, 

commuters can see a poster with the Lock it Up message inside the local 

Metro trains. Last year, EPA distributed 23,000 copies of this poster 

to poison centers, clinics, hospitals, and health departments. Parents 

and community organizations can obtain free poison prevention materials, 

including the "Lock it Up" poster, "Ten Tips to Protect Children from 

Pesticide and Lead Poisonings," and "Poison Prevention: Read the Label 

First Community Action Kit," by calling EPA's Environmental Publications 

line at 1-800-490-9198. Additional information on Poison Prevention Week 

is available on EPA’s Web site at 

http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/updates/ppweek-lockit.htm  and on 

the National Poison Prevention Week Council’s Web site at 

http://www.poisonprevention.org . 



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