Chem-News April 1989
April 12, 1989
TO: Contributors to the New York State Pesticide Recommendations
("Redbook") and Others Interested in Pesticide Information
FROM: William G. Smith, Extension Associate
INDEX
General Information
EPA Certification and Training
Pesticide Inerts
New York Apples and Alar
USDA Issues News Release on Alar
Section 18, Emergency Exemption Update
Certification and Training
Revised Termite Manual
Slides Sets for Applicator Training
NYS Regulations Manual for Termite Control
Applicator Training Manuals
Recertification Calendar
Growth Regulator/Herbicide
Imazethapyr (Pursuit)
Fungicide/Nematicide
Copper Sulfate on grapes
GENERAL INFORMATION
Revised Applicator Certification and Training Proposal Due in September
___________________________________________________________________
Revised applicator certification and training regulations are scheduled
to be proposed in September and made final in August 1990, according to EPA.
The regulations will not be subject to regulatory negotiation, an agency
official predicted last week.
He said the proposal will specifically ask for comments in levels of
supervision and will define use to include mixer/loaders. the National Pest
Control Association (NPCA) has filed comments with EPA objecting to the
establishment of three levels of supervision for application of restricted use
pesticides.
The association said that Level 2 (certified applicator five minutes
away) was impractical for the pest control industry. NPCA said, "To be
implemented, the certified applicator would need to be so close to the
application site that a one-person job would become, in effect, a two-person
job.
The requirement for site specific instructions would require visits to
the site by certified applicators, according to the association. "This
results in an increase in the cost of service, increased paper work and
regulatory requirements," NPCA told EPA.
Comprehensive Data Call-In Issued for List 1 Pesticide Inerts
_____________________________________________________________
EPA has started to implement its 1987 pesticide inerts policy with the
issuance of comprehensive data call-in notices to registrants of pesticides
containing the inerts of toxicological concern.
The agency advised registrants that one acceptable response to the notice
was a commitment to reformulate and the filing of a new Confidential Statement
of Formula (CSF) within six months of receipt of the notice.
Inerts covered by issued notices: hydroquinone; cadmium; 1,4-
dichlorobenzene; dioxane; hydrazine; n-Hexane; glycol mono-methyl ether; ethyl
acrylate; 2-ethoxyethyl acetate; 2-ethoxyethanol; isophorone; carbon
disulfide; lead compounds; malachite green; methyl n-butyl ketone; phenol;
nonylphenol; tricresyl phosphate; o-phenylphenol; rhodamine B; sodium
dichromate, and tributyl tin oxide.
Pesticide and Toxic Chemical News, March 22, 1989
79% of New York Apples Free of Alar
___________________________________
"A debate within the scientific community over the past few years
concerning the safety of tolerance levels set by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) for chemical residues in food has recently focused considerable
media attention on the wholesomeness of apples," Agriculture and Markets
Commissioner Richard T. McGuire said this past week. "Because New York is the
second largest apple producing state in the United States, and because we have
broad statutory responsibilities to maintain a safe and clean food supply
within the state, our department has followed this controversy closely and,
since 1984, has taken steps to determine through testing exactly what levels
of daminozide (Alar) are present in apples being offered for sale in New York
stores."
"Presently, the EPA tolerance level for daminozide in food is 20 parts
per million. Apple samples collected from stores and warehouses around the
state by our Division of Food Inspection Services and analyzed in our food
laboratory through the highly sensitive methods of gas liquid chromatography
and high-pressure liquid chromatography, show no detectable levels of
daminozide in more than 79 percent of all tests conducted," Commissioner
McGuire said. "In those samples where daminozide is detected, the highest
level found to date is 3.3 parts per million, far below the Federal standard
of 20 ppm."
"In 203 samples of fresh apples tested, our laboratory found no
detectable levels of daminozide in 148 samples. In the 55 samples which were
positive, Alar or daminozide was found at levels ranging from 0.5 parts per
million to 3.3 parts per million In 29 samples of applesauce tested, Alar
was found in only one sample. The level was 1.6 parts per million. Apple
juice was tested in 53 samples. Only four showed detectable Alar at levels
ranging from 1.0 part per million to 1.7 parts per million."
"When we review these test results, we must conclude that New York
consumers are not at risk based on the scientific evidence available.
"While most of our apples show no Alar at all, a consumer would have to
eat many, many pounds of Alar-treated apples each day before the exposure to
Alar even approached the levels set by EPA as unsafe."
"We will continue our testing program and we will continue to closely
follow the scientific debate and to communicate with the New York State
Department of Health on this issue," the Commissioner said. "We are committed
to protecting New York consumers in keeping with our responsibilities under
the Agriculture and Markets Law of the state which assign to this Department
broad responsibilities for protecting the food chain.
We believe that our test results should reassure both the concerned
consumer and the apple growers and food retailers in New York State."
Focus on Farming, April 3, 1989.
USDA Issues News Release on Washing Vegetables and Alar
_______________________________________________________
Recently Wells Willis and Pat Calvert (from USDA) viewed a tape of a Phil
Donohue show. The focus of the show was on the Natural Resources Defense
Council report "Intolerable Risk: Pesticides in Our Children's Food." During
the show, a public service announcement (PSA)was shown featuring Meryll Streep
washing her broccoli in a sink full of soapy water. In the PSA, she states
that the "government" tells her she needs to do this for 2 to 3 minutes, and
she wonders why -- is the food not safe? In response to questions from the
audience, she states that this was based on a USDA recommendation given by
John McClung on a Phil Donohue show 5 years ago. No mention is made of the
recommendation in the NRDC report (page 7 of the Summary) that consumers take
action by "washing all produce, preferably with a diluted solution of
dishwashing soap."
It appears that John McClung may have just been agreeing with a statement
made by Ellen Haas, and was not presenting a USDA position on this.
Based on the information Wells has been able to gather, USDA does not
recommend using soap to wash fruits and vegetables. The Food and Drug
Administration has also been contacted for their position on the washing
recommendation. They do not recommend the use of soap when rinsing fruits and
vegetables. FDA states that detergents have not been tested for safety of
consumption.
We hope this information will be helpful in responding to concerned
callers.
In addition, we are transmitting a message from EPA Acting Administrator
Jack Moore on ALAR and the NRDC report.
"In contrast, the EPA has based its risk assessment of daminozide on new
studies. In addition, food-consumption data used by NRDC were based on a
small survey which had a relatively poor participation rate (only 65 percent
completion rate) and these data were inappropriately used by the NRDC in its
calculations; EPA used a much larger survey of over 30,000 persons conducted
by the U. S. Department of Agriculture in 1977/78 (that survey is currently
being updated to reflect 1987/88 data).
"The practice of using data rejected by scientific peer review, coupled
with food consumption data of unproven validity to calculate "risk estimates,"
is misleading.
"These factors plus other differences in procedures used by EPA and NRDC
to estimate exposures to risk account for a 100-fold difference in the
estimated risk that Alar poses for children and also for 90 percent of the
total cancer risk to children claimed by NRDC.
"EPA announced its intention to proceed with cancelling Alar on Feb. 1.
The agency's estimated risk of cancer from a lifetime of exposure to
daminozide (70 years) is 4.5 persons per one hundred thousand; the estimate of
risk to children during the time it would take to get the chemical off the
market is nine per one million.
"In regard to cancer risks, EPA's stated policy is that lifetime dietary
cancer risks generally should not be greater than one cancer per million
persons exposed. This is the reference point for "negligible risk" usually
used by EPA (and other government agencies). For example, EPA recently
cancelled 42 uses of the pesticide captan and retained 24 uses after
determining that all food uses of captan may pose risks of cancer greater than
a negligible risk. By cancelling some uses, the remaining uses pose risks
within an acceptable range.
"It is important to understand that risk estimates based on animal
testing are fairly rough estimates and do not accurately predict human
disease. For example, EPA risk estimates mean that there is a 95 percent
certainty that the risk is no higher than that estimated by the agency. It
may be lower and may even be zero.
USDA Release 3/10/89 from Bonnie Braun
Section 18, Emergency Exemption Update
______________________________________
The following Section 18, emergency exemptions have been completed,
reviewed by the DEC and sent to EPA for review:
1. Kryocide for the control of Colorado potato beetle on potatoes grown
in New York State.
2. Propachlor (Ramrod) for the control of broadleaf weeds in onions.
3. Vinclozolin (Ronilan) on snap beans for the control of gray mold.
The following Section 18, emergency exemptions are still being reviewed
by the DEC and have not been submitted to the EPA:
1. Imazethapyr (Pursuit) to control certain broadleaf weeds in peas,
snap beans, and dry beans (red kidney only).
CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING
Revised Termite Manual Available.
____________________________
The third edition of The Termite Control Applicator Training Manual is
now available. The new edition represents the work of several people who
worked to update the old manual to contemporary standards. Termite biology,
prevention and control information have been updated. Groundwater protection
information has been added and specifically tailored to termiticide
application. The chapters on problems and hazards and other wood destroying
insects were also updated. In reality it is a new manual in an old familiar
cover.
The third edition is already being distributed from the Cornell
Cooperative Extension Distribution Center at the single copy price of $7. The
DEC should be developing the certification exam for termite control soon.
Ron Gardner, Chemicals-Pesticides Program
Slides Sets for Applicator Training Added to Audio Visual Center.
_________________________________________________________________
The Chemicals-Pesticides Program has given selected slide programs to the
Audio Visual Center (AVC) at Cornell. These slides sets, seventeen in all,
are the first of many that we feel will assist agents with applicator
training. We plan to add a copy of new AV programs to the AVC library as they
become available. The program could also add video tapes as well if there is
sufficient demand to justify the cost. Please give us some feed back about
this effort. We would like to know what you think.
The rental cost for county agent use will be one-half the listed price.
Call Rich Gray (607) 255-2091 for AVC rental information.
Certification/Training Slide Sets Available on Loan from the Audio Visual
Center:
1 Calibration of Low-Pressure Sprayers - S444-1 University of Illinois
2 Calibration of Granular Applicators - S444-2 University of Illinois
3 Calibration of High-Capacity Flotation Sprayers - S444-3 University of
Illinois
4 Calibration of Equipment for Ornamentals and Turfgrass - S444-4
University of Illinois
5 Calibration of Homeowner Chemical Application Equipment - S444-5
University of Illinois
6 Calibration of Equipment for Applying Pesticides for Rights-of-Way and
Other Noncrop Areas - S444-6 - University of Illinois
7 The Calibration of Air Carrier Sprayers - S444-7 - University of
Illinois
8 Farm Workers Pesticide Safety Program - Part I - The Label Florida
State
9 Farm Workers Pesticide Safety Program - Part II - First Aid and
Prevention - Florida State
10 Farm Workers Pesticide Safety Program - Part III - Daily Living With
Pesticides - Florida State
11 Pesticide Safety for Noncertified Mixers, Loaders, or Applicators -
Part I - Formulations Label and Protective Clothing - Florida State
12 Pesticide Safety for Noncertified Mixers, Loaders or Applicators -
Part II - Safety Measures for Mixing, Loading or Application -
Florida State
13 Pesticide Safety for Noncertified Mixers, Loaders or Applicators -
Part III - Formulations, Labels and Protective Clothing - Florida
State
14 Pesticide Fundamentals of Proper Application - Washington State,
Oregon and Idaho
15 The Pesticide Label - Washington State, Oregon and Idaho
16 Farm Chemical Safety Is In Your Hands - NACA
17 Storage and Disposal of Pesticides and Containers on the Farm -
Mississippi State
NYS Regulations Manual Available for Termite Control.
_____________________________________________
A new termite regulations manual for pesticide applicator certification
is now available. Called the Applicators' Guide to Termite Control
Regulations in New York State, this book contains a digested version of the
regulations pertaining to termite control. The guide will be part of the
pesticide applicator certification training materials for New York State.
Persons seeking commercial certification in subcategory 7c, Termite Control,
will use this handbook along with the termite category manual (see related
article in this report) as a reference when preparing for their certification
exam. Educators and applicators need to be aware, however, that a new exam
must be written and distributed to the DEC regional offices before the Guide
to Termite Control Regulations will be required for certification.
The purpose of this handbook is to provide an accurate and easy-to-follow
guide to regulations pertaining to termiticide application in 6 NYCRR (Title 6
of the New York State Codes of Rules and Regulations) Parts 325 and 326.
Until the certification exam is updated, applicators and educators will find
the handbook a useful reference to the regulations. The book contains an
easy-to-use table of contents with many drawings and diagrams. A lot of work
went into making this book on regulations easy to read and understand.
The Guide to Termite Control Regulations in New York State is available
from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Distribution Center for the single copy
price of $4.
Ron Gardner, Chemicals-Pesticides Program
Prices Increased on some Applicator Training Manuals.
_____________________________________________________
Starting March 1, 1989 new prices will be in effect for some of the
pesticide applicator training manuals. Increases in warehouse, distribution
and production costs have forced us to take this action. Cornell Cooperative
Extension personnel, Cornell faculty and staff will receive a discounted price
on manuals picked up at the Distribution Center. This discount will be $1 to
$2 off the quantity price, depending on the manual. For all orders requiring
shipping, those in the Cornell community will be charged the quantity price.
The new price sheet has been posted on CENET . It can be found in the
Certification Library (use #6 from the CHEM-NEWS main menu).
Ron Gardner, Chemicals-Pesticides Program
CENET Recertification Calendar Discontinued.
____________________________________________
The recertification calendar on CENET has been temporarily discontinued.
The information (training programs, dates, contact people, and recertification
credits) was sent to us by the Albany DEC office. Because of circumstances
there, these data have not been sent to us for 5 months now. Consequently, we
no longer have any educational programs to add to the calendar. As soon as
the DEC can resume sending us this information, we will restart the
recertification calendar feature of CHEM-NEWS.
Ron Gardner, Chemicals-Pesticides Program
GROWTH REGULATOR/HERBICIDE
First Tolerance Established for Imazethapyr (Pursuit)
_____________________________________________________
On March 14, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the
first permanent tolerance for residues of imazethapyr (Pursuit) in or on
soybeans at 0.1 p.p.m. To date the product has not been registered for use
in New York by the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Pesticide and Toxic Chemical News
FUNGICIDE/NEMATICIDE
Special Local Need Label Issued for Copper Sulfate on Grapes
____________________________________________________
A Special Local Need, 24 (c) label , has been issued for the use of
Copper Sulfate Powdered Instant Bluestone, EPA Reg. No. 1109-7 for control of
powdery mildew on grapes in the dormant stage. Use directions are as follows:
- Apply in Spring before bud-swell and before any green tissue is present
- Use 4 lbs of copper sulfate pentahydrate per 100 gallons of water.
- Apply in a high volume spray of 300 gallons of water per acre.
- Direct spray to thoroughly wet the dormant vine, especially the bark of
the trunk, head, or cordons.
WGS 4/89
Disclaimer: Please read
the pesticide label prior to use. The information contained at this web
site is not a substitute for a pesticide label. Trade names used herein
are for convenience only; no endorsement of products is intended, nor is
criticism of unnamed products implied. Most of this information is historical
in nature and may no longer be applicable.
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