Chem-News November/December 1990
DATE: November/December, 1990
TO: Those Interested in Pesticide Information
FROM: William G. Smith, Senior Extension Associate
INDEX
Page
Azinphos-Methyl; Certain Agricultural Uses Deleted 1
NYS Dept. of Ag. & Mkts. Food Lab. October/November Report 2
FDA Pesticide Residue Monitoring Plans Noted 3
EPA Notes Voluntary Cancellation of 4 Amitrole Products 3
White House Minor Use Task Force Makes Recommendations 3
Pesticide Export Provision Dropped From Farm Bill 4
EPA To Encourage Non-Chemical Pest Controls, Campt Says 5
Revised Applicator Certification Training Proposal Issued 5
USDA Amends Regulations To Import Certain Fruits From Chile 6
Pesticide Poisonings To Be Reported 6
Update on Cornell's Pesticide Needs and Alternatives Survey 7
USEPA Well Water Survey 7
News Briefs 9
* * * * * * * * * *
Azinphos-Methyl; Deletion of Certain Uses and Directions for Use for
Agricultural Crops
SUMMARY: This notice announces that Mobay Chemical Corporation, one of the
four producers of the technical active ingredient azinphos-methyl in the
United States has requested to amend its registrations of Guthion Technical
(EPA reg. no. 3125-108), Guthion 25% Wettable Powder Insecticide for
Repackaging of an Insecticide (EPA reg. no. 3125-153), Guthion 22 Concentrate
(EPA reg. no. 3125-223), Guthion Garden Spray Insecticide for Repackaging of
an Insecticide Only (EPA reg. no. 3125-225), Guthion 50% Wettable Powder (EPA
reg. no. 3125-193), Guthion 50% Wettable Powder in Water Soluble Packets (EPA
reg. no. 3125-301), Guthion 35% Wettable Powder (EPA reg. no. 3125-378),
Guthion 35% Wettable Powder in Water Soluble Packets (EPA reg. no. 3125-179),
Guthion 2L (EPA reg. no. 3125-102), and Guthion 2S (EPA reg. no. 3125-123) by
deleting all uses and directions for use on the following 22 agricultural
crops: apricots, barley, beans, blackberries, boysenberries, broccoli,
brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, clover, grass mixture,
loganberries, oats, pasture grasses, peas, raspberries, rye, soybeans,
spinach, tobacco, and wheat. EPA is at this time soliciting comments on the
proposed amendments.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Azinphos-methyl is the commonly accepted name for
O,O-dimethyl-S-[(4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3 (4H)-yl)methyl]phosphor-dithioate.
It is a broad spectrum organophosphate insecticide that was initially
registered as a pesticide under FIFRA in 1957 by Mobay Chemical Corporation.
Azinphos-methyl is primarily used in the formulation of insecticide products
for use on terrestrial food crops and terrestrial non-food crops. Azinphos-
methyl is marketed by Mobay Chemical Corporation under the trade name Guthion.
Mobay, one of the four registrants of technical grade azinphos-methyl, has
requested to amend their registrations for Guthion products by deleting all
uses and directions for use on the 22 crops listed in this notice. EPA
intends to approve this request. Since there will no longer be Guthion
manufacturing use products available from which to formulate registered end-
use azinphos-methyl products on the 22 crops, the other three registrants,
Aceto Chemical Company, Makhteshim-Aagan (America) lnc., and Gowan Company,
are being notified by certified mail that they are being given the opportunity
to generate data in support of the reregistration of azinphos-methyl for the
22 crops listed in this notice. End-use registrants of azinphos-methyl are
being notified by certified mail that their generic data exemption is not
valid for these uses. In the event that Aceto Chemical Company, Makhteshim-
Agan (America) Inc., or Gowan Company, do not generate the data necessary to
re-register the use of azinphos-methyl for the 22 crops listed in this notice,
end-use registrants will be given opportunity to generate data in support of
these uses. EPA is now soliciting comments on the proposed amendments.
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to the address given
above.
-- Federal Register, 10/31/90
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Laboratory Monthly
Report for October/November, 1990
Food Laboratory personnel analyzed the following number of food samples
during October, 1990:
Number of
Samples Agency
__________ _______________________________
1 New York State Health Department
Department of Agriculture and Markets
762 Food Inspection Services
4 Kosher Inspection
1,559 Milk Control
_____
Total 2,326
Pesticides were not found in 79 percent of the samples. Approximately
one percent contained residues in excess of tolerances. Domestic tomatoes
contained 0.19 ppm DDE and TDE.
During the month of November, 73 samples of milk and various food
products were analyzed. Residues were not detected in any of the 20 fluid
milk samples. Detectable residues also were not found in 66 percent of the
fruit and vegetable samples analyzed. Official tolerances were not exceeded
in the remaining 18 samples.
-- NYS Agriculture & Markets Food Report
FDA Pesticide Residue Monitoring Plans Noted
FDA has outlined plans for analyzing about 20,000 samples of hundreds of
domestic and imported food for residues of 600-700 pesticide active
ingredients. Monitoring will cover commodities from over 100 exporting
countries. Commodities, pesticides, countries and states covered will vary
from year to year. Of the 600-700 active ingredients, FDA has selected 225
parent pesticides and put them in three priority groups. The 225 will be
covered over the next several years, according to "Pesticide Residue
Monitoring: Information and Planning Materials for FDA's Monitoring Program,"
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
FDA cannot ensure that every food shipment containing a violative
pesticide residue is intercepted; rather, the agency conducts its pesticide
program to uncover major pesticide residue problems, which, when identified,
can be remedied to prevent future violations," according to the materials.
-- Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Oct. 17, 1990
EPA Notes Voluntary Cancellation of 4 Amitrole Products
In the Oct. 15 Federal Register, EPA published a notice of receipt of a
request from Rhone-Poulenc for voluntary cancellation of four amitrole
registrations, effective Oct. 25, 1990. The products can be sold, distributed
or released for shipment until Sept. 1, 1991. End-users may use the products
until supplies are exhausted, the notice said.
The four: Weedazol, Amizine, Liquid Amizine, and Amitrol T (Lawn and
Garden).
-- Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Oct. 17, 1990
White House Minor Use Task Force Makes Recommendations
A White House Minor Use Task Force has filed a five-page final report
which makes recommendations for extensive changes, including:
-- Define minor use and minor crop in a tiered way so that "if the use is
minor, the degree of 'minorness' would be established by clearly defined
dietary exposure criteria. Registration data would be commensurate with the
'minorness' of each particular crop/pesticide combination. This approach
would facilitate minor crop registration by relating data requirements to the
degree of dietary exposure."
-- Change the crop grouping scheme, following study, possibly by using
different representative crops or subgroups.
-- "EPA should permit greater bridging of data between two or more crops
with similar residue potential.
-- "Minor crop pesticide registrations would be facilitated by permitting
geographically restricted registrations for all minor crops based on
appropriate geographical residue data. Registrations could be expanded if
additional residue data become available. This could hasten the availability
of minor use registrations in regions of greatest need without delays incurred
by a geographically limited data base."
-- Permit the "provisional use of pesticides on minor crops based on
established Codex Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) where no actual residues are
likely to occur."
-- Exempt registrants from maintenance fees for special local need labels
on minor crops.
-- Use conditional registrations and reregistrations more widely than at
present to address minor use problems.
-- "EPA should adopt a policy of flexible reregistration data submission
schedules for minor crop tolerances with deadlines based on the farthermost
study due date."
-- Expedite registration of biorational agents.
-- Legislative changes: Move toward FIFRA revisions based on recommenda-
tions of a government-industry-user task force, and provide tax incentives for
registrants which support minor uses and minor use registration projects.
-- Encourage third party registrations and explore liability waivers.
-- Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Oct. 17, 1990
Pesticide Export Provision Dropped From Farm Bill
The pesticide export provision was dropped from the farm bill by the
Senate-House Conference Committee, which also eliminated all pesticide
container measures, and basically adopted the Senate version of the minor use
amendment and the Senate version of IR-4 provisions. The bill has an IPM
research provision, and a pesticide use record-keeping requirement.
Provisions of the pesticide use amendment agreed to by the conferees at
3:45 a.m. Oct. 16 include: covers restricted use pesticides; has the House
language on medical access; provides for federal and state agency access to
the records; no worker access, and farmers would be held harmless under other
federal and state laws. Still to be worked out by staff at press time is the
matter of how federal agencies will make records available without release of
farmers' names and locations.
-- Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Oct. 17, 1990
EPA To Encourage Non-Chemical Pest Controls, Campt Says
"EPA will increase its support for research on low- or non-chemical
methods of pest control and encourage the development of biological and other
low-toxicity products through incentives in the registration process," Douglas
Campt, Director, OPP, EPA, noted in a speech last week to the California
Agricultural Production Consultants Association meeting in Costa Mesa. The
impetus for this increased research is the agency's new emphasis on pollution
prevention, he said. The OPP Director also noted that EPA is developing a
"safer pesticides" policy "to expedite the registration of new products that
can replace some of the riskier pesticides now in use."
-- Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, November 7,1990
Revised Applicator Certification Training Proposal Issued
The EPA's proposed revised application certification and training
regulations was published in the Federal Register on Nov. 7, with 120 days
allowed for comment. The proposal requires the same general standards of
competency for both commercial and private applicators.
The "use" definition in the proposal "means performance of the following
pesticide-related activities requiring certification: application; mixing;
loading; transport, storage or handling after manufacturer's seal is broken;
care and maintenance of application and handling equipment; and disposal of
pesticides and their containers in accordance with label requirements. There
are uses not requiring certification under this part, such as long-distance
transport, long-term storage, or ultimate disposal."
The proposal would drop the exemption for doctors of medicine and
veterinary medicine.
Applicator recertification would be required at least every five years.
And, the proposal would impose specific training requirements for non-
certified applicators.
Under the proposal, there would be four private and 11 commercial
applicator categories.
-- Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, November 7,1990
USDA Amends Regulations To Import Certain Fruits From Chile
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19-The U.S. Department of Agriculture has amended its
regulations to allow the importation of stonefruit (apricots, nectarines,
peaches and plums) from Chile based on pre-clearance inspection, as long as
certain precautions are taken. Importation based on fumigation, which was
previously mandatory, is still an accepted option.
Precautions include inspection of the fruit in Chile. Also, all
shipments must be completely covered with tarpaulins, or be enclosed in
containers or sealed trucks during movement from the inspection facility to
the vessel or aircraft.
Activities to determine the eligibility of these kinds of fruit shipments
to the United States, are called "pre-clearance" to distinguish them from
similar inspections, treatments and other procedures performed by APHIS
inspectors at ports of arrival in the United States. Inspections conducted in
Chile are comparable in effectiveness to inspections at the port of entry in
the United States.
These pre-clearance inspections are performed under the direction of
APHIS inspectors in Chile and are carried out either by APHIS inspectors or by
inspectors of the national plant protection service of Chile in the presence
of APHIS inspectors. Fruit pre-cleared in Chile does not normally require
reinspection at U.S. ports.
The amended regulations will be published in the Oct. 19 Federal Register
and will take effect Nov. 19.
-- USDA, Selected Speeches and News Releases, Oct. 18-25, 1990
Pesticide Poisonings To Be Reported
Pesticide poisonings have recently been added to the list of reportable
medical conditions in New York. Under these regulations, physicians and
health facilities are required to report, to the New York State Department of
Health (NYSDOH), any patient with confirmed or suspected pesticide poisoning.
Clinical laboratories are required to report blood cholinesterase levels and
levels of pesticides in human tissue which are outside the normal range
established by the laboratory.
All reports of confirmed or suspected pesticide poisonings in New York
will be investigated by staff working with the newly formed pesticide registry
within the Division of Environmental Epidemiology and Occupational Health at
the NYSDOH. The goals of the registry are to (1) determine the occurrence of
pesticide poisonings in New York, (2) monitor both the acute and chronic
effects of pesticide exposure, (3) promptly investigate and intervene in any
situations where the risk of pesticide poisonings is continuing, (4) develop
and implement interventions to reduce the risks of pesticide poisoning, and
(5) increase the awareness of pesticide poisonings by members of the medical
community.
Medical and laboratory personnel should report all suspected pesticide
poisonings directly to the NYS PESTICIDE POISONINGS REGISTRY at 1-800-322-
6850. For further information regarding the NYS pesticide poisonings
registry, please feel free to contact the Bureau of Occupational Health at
518-458-6228.
-- NYS Department of Health
Update on Cornell's Pesticide Needs and Alternatives Survey
In the September issue of Chem-News, Cornell's Chemicals-Pesticides
Program announced its National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment
Program (NAPIAP) funded project to survey New York growers relative to
pesticide use, needs, and alternatives for production of field corn, small
grains, alfalfa, cauliflower, snap beans, onions and sweet corn.
The data generated through this survey will provide NAPIAP with benefits
information for the Current Benefits Review portion of the Risk/Benefit
analysis (for a pesticide active ingredient) in the EPA's Special Review
process.
To gather the information, the Chemicals-Pesticides Program has designed
a one-hour pesticide education course which will offer growers 2.0 hours of
recertification credit (formerly only one credit). The course will cover the
following topics: The Special Review Process, Pesticide Recording Keeping and
Pesticide Safety/Label Review as well as filling out the short survey form.
It is still possible for agents/specialists to schedule a course for
growers by contacting the Chemicals-Pesticides Program. To complete the
survey questionnaire, it would be helpful if growers brought along their most
recent pesticide-use records. We request that a minimum of ten growers take
part in a course because of the travel time for Chemicals-Pesticides Program
staff. If agents/ specialists are unable to schedule a session, a request
that direct mailing be made to growers can be arranged through our office.
All responses are completely confidential.
The final date for a session scheduling will be March 31, 1991. For
additional information, please contact the Chemicals-Pesticides Program, 5123
Comstock Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY/14853, (607) 255 1866.
-- Chemicals-Pesticides Program, Cornell University
USEPA Well Water Survey
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed its five-
year National Survey of Pesticides in Drinking Water Wells (the Survey or
NPS). The Survey is the first and perhaps the most extensive monitoring
survey ever undertaken to evaluate the presence of pesticides, pesticide
degradates, and nitrate in drinking water wells in the United States. EPA's
Phase I Report provides national estimates of the occurrence and frequency of
detections of nitrate and pesticides in drinking water wells. The Phase I
results of the Survey indicate that at least half of the nation's drinking
water wells contain detectable amounts of nitrate, with a small percentage at
concentrations higher than EPA's regulatory and health-based limits for
drinking water (about 1.2% of community water system (CWS) wells and about
2.4% of rural domestic wells).
Based on the results of the Survey, EPA estimates that about 52.1% of the
94,600 community water system wells in the United States contain nitrate;
about 10.4% contain one or more pesticides; and about 7.1% may contain both.
Of the approximately 10.5 million rural domestic wells, EPA estimates that
about 57.0% contain nitrate, 4.2% contain one or more pesticides, and about
3.2% contain both. EPA estimates that less than one percent (0.6%) of rural
domestic wells containing pesticides, or approximately 60,900 wells, contain
at least one pesticide over a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or Lifetime
Health Advisory Level (HAL). None of the detections of pesticides or
pesticide degradates for CWS wells were above the MCL/HAL. Nevertheless,
based on its statistical analysis of the Survey results, EPA estimates that
less than 1% (0.8%) of community water system wells contain pesticides at
concentrations higher than the MCL or HAL for those chemicals for which an MCL
or HAL has been established.
The pesticides detected most frequently in the Survey were DCPA acid
metabolites and atrazine. DCPA acid metabolites are degradates of DCPA, which
is used primarily as a weed killer on lawns, turf, and golf courses, and also
on a variety of fruits and vegetables. In addition, ten other pesticides were
detected at concentrations exceeding the Survey's minimum reporting limits.
The concentrations of pesticides and pesticide degradates detected were
usually well below levels of health concern.
These Survey results indicate that the proportion of wells nationwide
found to contain any particular pesticide or pesticide degradate is low.
Considering only the proportion of wells containing pesticides over the EPA
levels of health concern, Survey results do not demonstrate any immediate
widespread health problem. Survey results also show, however, that
substantial numbers of wells, particularly rural domestic wells, could be
affected by the presence of one or more pesticides. In addition, substantial
numbers of wells are affected both by the presence of nitrate and by nitrate
over EPA levels of health concern. These results indicate that there is need
for continued attention to ground-water protection and additional analysis of
the issue. A Phase II report, to be released in 1991, will discuss EPA's
assessment of the causes and factors associated with the occurrence of
pesticides and nitrates in drinking water wells.
Five pesticides -- alachlor, atrazine, dibromochloropropane (DBCP),
ethylene dibromide (EDB), and gamma-HCH (Lindane) -- were detected in rural
domestic wells at levels above their respective MCLs/HALs. MCLs are
enforceable standards established by EPA pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water
Act as the maximum permissible level of a contaminant that is allowed in a
public water supply. Although they do not apply as a matter of law to rural
domestic wells, MCLs were used as a standard of quality for source drinking
water. HAL s are the maximum concentration of a contaminant in water that may
be consumed safely over an average human lifetime.
-- EPA News Release, 11/90
News Briefs:
Carbofuran existing stocks dates for eight voluntarily cancelled uses
are:
Nov. 15, 1990 -- FMC cannot sell product made before that date after that
date, and July 15, 1991 -- the last date product with prior labeling can be
sold or distributed by anyone, an EPA official noted this week.
Procymidone risk data and EPA's assessment may be reviewed by the EPA's
FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) at a meeting tentatively to be held
Nov. 30.
Telone may be reviewed jointly by EPA's Science Advisory Board and SAP
because of the two exposure routes.
The definition developed by OPTS' Biotechnology Science Advisory
Committee for exclusion of biotech pesticides from notification to EPA prior
to small-scale testing was deemed "acceptable" by the FIFRA Scientific
Advisory Panel (SAP), but only if key modifications are made, according to the
final SAP report from its Sept. 26 meeting.
-- Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Oct. 17, 1990
EBDCs suspension negotiations are subject to monthly status reports from
the parties beginning Nov. 15 and every 15th of the month thereafter,
according to an order from the EPA ALJ.
-- Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, November 7,1990
EPA has granted a registration for the use of acephate (Orthene 75S
Soluble Powder) on lettuce to control aster leafhopper.
-- W. Smith, Chemicals-Pesticides Program
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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