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streptomycin (Agri-Strep, Agrimycin) EPA Pesticide Fact Sheet 9/88

                      EPA Pesticide Fact Sheet

Name of Chemical:  STREPTOMYCIN
Reason for Issuance:  Registration Standard
Date Issued:  September 1988
Fact Sheet Number:  16


                    1. DESCRIPTION OF CHEMICAL

- Chemical Name:  0-2-Deoxy-2-(methylamino)-d-L-glucopyranosyl-(1->2)-0-
  5-deoxy-3-C-formyl-d-L-lyxofuranosyl9(1->4)-N,N'-bis (aminoimino-
  methyl)-D-streptomine
- ANSI Common Name:  Streptomycin
- Other Common Names:  streptamine
- Principal Trade Names:  Agri-Mycin 17, Agri-Step, Plantomycin
- EPA (Shaughnessy) Code:  006306, 006310 (streptomycin sulfate)
- Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Number:  57-92-1, 3810-74-0
  (streptomycin sulfate)
- Year of Initial Registration:  1958
- Pesticide Type(s):  Fungicide
- Chemical Family:  Aminoglycaside antibiotic isolated from the
  bacterium Streptomyces griseus
- U. S. Foreign Producers:  U.S. Merck & Co., Inc. and Pfizer, Inc.

                 2. USE PATTERNS AND FORMULATIONS

- Registered uses:  Terrestrial food crop uses on fruit and vegetables,
  terrestrial nonfood crop uses on tobacco and ornamentals, and
  greenhouse nonfood crop use an ornamentals
- Uses:  Ninety-eight percent of annual production is used an apples,
  pears, and tomatoes
- Pests controlled (in general):  Fungal diseases of selected fruit,
  vegetables, seed and ornamental crops
- Types of Formulations:  Dust, wettable powder, wettable powder/dust,
  emulsifiable concentrate, pelleted/tablets, and liquid ready-to-use
- Types and Method of Application:  Foliar application by ground
  equipment, such as airblast.  Other methods include:  aircraft, duster
  attachment mounted over conveyor belt, hand-held or tor driven
  sprayers, dip treatment, tree injection treatment, slurry seed
  treatment.
- Application Rates:  Terrestrial food crop - 25 to 200 ppm
  Terrestrial nonfood crop - 50 to 200 ppm

                     3.  SCIENCE FINDINGS

Chemical Characteristics:

- Physical state:  powder
- Color:  pink to tan
- Odor: burned sugar
- Molecular Weight:  581.58; 1457.40 (streptomycin sulfate)
- Empirical Formula:  C2lH39N70l2; C42Hg4Nl4036S3 (Streptomycin sulfate)


Toxicology Characteristics

   Streptomycin has been used since the late 1940's to treat bacterial 
infections in humans.  As a result of this use as a human drug, there is 
an extensive body of toxicological data available on streptomycin.  
Thus, all toxicological data requirements have been waived.


Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics

   Metabolism and Persistence in Plants and Animals:  The Agency has 
determined that plant and animal metabolism data were not needed for the 
following reasons:

- metabolism of streptomycin in mammals has already been traced in
  connection with its use in humans;
- residues are non-detectable (< 0.5 ppm) in or on crops when treated
  according to label use rates and directions;
- large amounts of toxicological data exist;
- most crops are treated at or before transplanting (celery, peppers,
  potatoes and tomatoes) and pome fruits are treated foliarly but with a
  30-day PHI for pears and a 50-day PHI for apples and crabapples
- potential daily exposure to streptomycin as a pesticide is < 0.01% of
  the daily clinical dosage (1-4 grams/day)


                    4.  TOLERANCE ASSESSMENT

   Tolerances have been established for residues of streptomycin in a 
variety of raw agricultural commodities at 0.25 ppm (40 CFR 180.245). 
These tolerances are supported by the available data.  Tolerances must 
be proposed for residues of streptomycin in or on beans (succulent and 
dried), bean vines and bean hay to reflect the registered use on beans.


                5.  SUMMARY OF REGULATORY POSITIONS

- At this time, none of the risk criteria prescribing a Special Review
  have been met.
- While data gaps are being filled, currently registered manufacturing-
  use products and end-use products containing streptomycin as the sole
  active ingredient may be sold, distributed, formulated, and used,
  subject to the conditions of this Standard.  In order to maintain
  existing registrations, registrants must provide or agree to
  develop additional data specified in the Data Appendices.

- No significant human dietary exposure is anticipated due to the lack
  of detectable residues and the long PHIs.
- Because of the large amount of existing human & data, all toxicology
  requirements have been waived by the Agency for this Standard.
- The Agency is deferring to the Food and Drug Administration on
  the issue of development of streptomycin resistant microorganisms.

                   6.  LABELING REQUIREMENTS

   All streptomycin products must bear appropriate labeling as specified 
in 40 CFR 156.10.  Appendix II of the Standard contains information on 
label requirements.

   In order to remain in compliance with FIFRA, no pesticide product 
containing streptomycin may be released for shipment by the registrant 
after 12 month from receipt of the Guidance Document, unless the product 
bears amended labeling which complies with the specifications in the 
Standard.

   In order to remain in compliance with FIFRA, no pesticide product 
containing streptomycin may be distributed, sold, offered for sale, held 
for sale, shipped, delivered for shipment, or received and (having been 
so received) delivered or offered to be delivered by any person after 24 
months from receipt of the Guidance Document, unless the product bears 
amended labeling which complies with the specifications of the Standard.

   Under the Precautionary Statements section of the label, the 
following statements must appear:

     May cause allergic skin reactions.  Do not breathe dust or spray
     mist.  Wear dust mask and rubber gloves.  Wash thoroughly after
     handling.  This material is not to be used for medical, veterinary,
     or human purposes.

     Do not apply this product in a way that will contact unprotected
     workers, either directly or through drift.  Only protected handlers
     may be in the area during application.  Do not enter or allow entry
     into treated areas until (sprays have dried/dusts have settled/
     vapors have disbursed, as applicable) to perform hand labor tasks.

Decontamination

     If the pesticide comes in contact with skin, wash off with soap and
     water.  Always wash hands, face, and arms with soap and water
     before smoking, eating, drinking or toileting.  Before removing
     gloves, wash them with soap and water.

                    7.  SUMMARY OF DATA GAPS

Product Chemistry (must be resubmitted)

Environmental Fate

- Hydrolysis
- Photodegradation
- Aerobic an Anaerobic Metabolism
- Soil Dissipation
- Fish Accumulation
- Adsorption/Desorption

Ecological Effects

- Avian Acute Oral
- Avian Subacute Dietary
- Honey Bee Acute LD50

                     8.  CONTACT PERS0N AT EPA

Lois A. Rossi
Product manager (21)
Fungicides-Herbicides Branch
Registration Division (TS-767C)
Office of Pesticide Programs
Environmental Protection Agency
401 M St., SW
Washington, D.C.  20460


Office location and phone number:

Room 227, Crystal Mall #2
1921 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA
(703) 557-1900


DISCLAIMER:  The information in this Pesticide Fact Sheet is a summary 
only and may not be used to satisfy data requirements for pesticide 
registration and reregistration.  The complete Registration Standard for 
the pesticide may be obtained from the National Technical Information 
Service.

Contact the Product Manager listed above for further information.

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