EPA Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs 08/05/02 (Second Edition) http://www.epa.gov/pesticides ************************************************ IN THIS UPDATE: 1)DECISION ANNOUNCED ON LINDANE 2)DIAZINON DECISION ADDRESSES ECOLOGICAL AND WORKER RISKS 3)EPA ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF ENDOSULFAN DECISION DOCUMENTS ************************************************ 1)DECISION ANNOUNCED ON LINDANE EPA has completed its review of the organochlorine insecticide and acaricide lindane. EPA has determined that the currently registered lindane products (for seed treatment on six crops) would be eligible for reregistration if the registrants make the changes specified in the Agency's Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document and provide certain required data, and if EPA is able to establish any tolerances necessary for residues of lindane in food from currently registered uses. EPA will revoke all existing lindane tolerances because the lindane uses for which those tolerances were originally established have been canceled. Lindane is currently used in the U.S. as a pre-plant seed treatment for barley, corn, oats, rye, sorghum, and wheat. Lindane also is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prescription pharmaceutical use in shampoos and lotions to treat lice and mites (scabies) in humans. Risks from exposure to lindane in food and drinking water are low, including risks to indigenous peoples of certain regions of Alaska who rely heavily on game for food. Such game may contain residues of lindane due to this pesticide's potential for long-range atmospheric transport. Worker risks are low for commercial and on-farm liquid seed treatment of all six crops, provided engineering controls are utilized. Risks of concern for on-farm dust treatment will be mitigated by discontinuing use on barley, oat, rye, and wheat seeds, and allowing corn and sorghum seed treatment with specified additional personal protective equipment (PPE). Based on EPA's current understanding of available data, lindane shampoo products used for head lice treatment do not pose human health risks of concern when used according to label directions. The Agency could not conclude, however, that lindane lotions used for scabies treatment result in acceptable exposure and risk. FDA will implement a number of measures to reduce misuse and risks from use of lindane pharmaceutical products. EPA's review of lindane was conducted with extensive input from USDA, FDA, other stakeholders, and the public through the Agency's public participation process. The Lindane RED, approved by EPA on July 31, 2002, risk assessments, and related documents will be available on EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/lindane/ . The Federal Register notice announcing the Lindane RED will be available at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr . EPA will request public comment on the RED for 60 days following publication of the Federal Register notice. ************************************************************* 2)DIAZINON DECISION ADDRESSES ECOLOGICAL AND WORKER RISKS EPA will phase out and cancel certain additional crop uses and formulations of the organophosphate insecticide diazinon to reduce risks to birds and other wildlife, agricultural workers, and the environment. These actions are part of a second agreement between EPA and diazinon technical registrants, reflected in the Diazinon Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) signed by the Agency on July 31, 2002. Diazinon is eligible for reregistration, provided that risk mitigation measures specified in the IRED are adopted. Through a notice to be published soon in the Federal Register, EPA will release the Diazinon IRED and invite public comment for 60 days on diazinon's benefits, usage, risks to workers and the environment, and related issues. Diazinon has been one of the most widely used insecticides in the U.S. for household lawn and garden pest control. To reduce risks to children and others, a December 2000 agreement is phasing out and canceling all residential uses - all indoor use product registrations must be canceled and retail sale must end by December 31, 2002. In addition, all outdoor residential use product registrations must be canceled and retail sale must end by December 31, 2004. A buy-back program will help remove these outdoor residential use products from the market and prevent further sale after that date. In completing its assessment of diazinon, EPA has taken steps to assure that workers who mix, load, and apply diazinon to agricultural sites are protected from risks of concern. Diazinon is highly toxic to birds, and very toxic to aquatic species including freshwater fish and invertebrates. To mitigate worker and ecological risks, the Diazinon IRED requires a number of measures to be phased in over the next 2 to 5 years, including: Cancel nearly all granular uses Discontinue all aerial application Discontinue foliar application to nearly all vegetable crops Reduce number of applications per growing season for most uses Require engineering controls for mixers and loaders, and closed cabs for applicators Set re-entry intervals (REIs) at 2 to 18 days Cancel certain crop uses The Diazinon IRED concludes EPA's review of this pesticide. The review was conducted with extensive input from USDA, stakeholders, and the public through the OP pilot public participation process. Once the Agency considers OP cumulative risks, further risk mitigation measures may be required for diazinon and other OPs. The Diazinon risk assessments and a summary of this decision are available on the Agency's website at :- http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/diazinon.htm . The IRED will be posted there soon. The Federal Register notice announcing the availability of the Diazinon IRED for comment will be available at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr. ********************************************************* 3)EPA ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF ENDOSULFAN DECISION DOCUMENTS On July 31, 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed the Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document for endosulfan. This document reflects the risk management and tolerance reassessment decision for this pesticide. An organochlorine insecticide, endosulfan is used on a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, cereals, and cotton, as well as ornamental greenery in agricultural settings. As part of the public participation process, the Agency will invite public comment on the decision document. Comments must be received within 60 days after availability is announced in the Federal Register. EPA determined that dietary, occupational, and ecological risks of endosulfan exceed the Agency's level of concern. The Agency has identified measures to reduce the exposure to endosulfan from food, water, and occupational sources, and exposures to non-target organisms. These measures include canceling uses for succulent beans, succulent peas, grapes, pecans, and spinach; reducing application rates; and establishing set backs and buffers to protect water. While the Agency believes that these measures will reduce the potential for exposures to aquatic organisms, it also believes that in specific geographical areas additional measures may be identified. In addition, the Agency is unable to fully evaluate the ecological risks associated with the atmospheric transport of endosulfan. In order to more fully evaluate the risks in vulnerable areas and identify appropriate risk management strategies, the Agency may conduct a public comment and stakeholder process. Information regarding the stakeholder process will be announced in the Federal Register. The Endosulfan RED and related documents will be available on the Agency's website at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/endosulfan/. The Federal Register notice announcing the availability of the Endosulfan RED will be available at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr . ****************************************************** For general questions on pesticides and pesticide poisoning prevention, contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), toll-free, at: 1-800-858-7378, by E-mail at npic@ace.orst.edu, or by visiting their website at: http://npic.orst.edu For information about ongoing activities in the Office of Pesticide Programs, visit our homepage at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides Or call or write us directly at: Communication Services Branch Office of Pesticide Programs (7506C) US Environmental Protection Agency Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004-2403 703-305-5017