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lead arsenate Proposed Tolerance Revocation

                         PRESS ADVISORY


  EPA PROPOSING TO REVOKE TOLERANCES FOR PESTICIDES CALCIUM
                   ARSENATE AND LEAD ARSENATE

     EPA is proposing to revoke the tolerances, or allowable residue 
levels, for the pesticides calcium arsenate and lead arsenate, which in 
years past were used to control insects on a variety of raw agricultural 
commodities.  Calcium arsenate was registered for use on asparagus, 
beans, blackberries, blueberries (huckleberries), boysenberries, 
broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, 
collards, corn, cucumbers, dewberries, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, 
loganberries, melons, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries, rutabagas, 
spinach, squash and youngberries.  Lead arsenate was registered for use 
on apples, apricots, asparagus, avocados, blackberries, blueberries 
(huckleberries), boysenberries, celery, cherries, citrus (used as a 
growth regulator and only in Florida), cranberries, currants, 
dewberries, eggplant, gooseberries, grapes, loganberries, mangoes, 
nectarines, peaches, pears, peppers, plums (fresh prunes), quinces, 
raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes and youngberries.

     The registrations of calcium arsenate and lead arsenate for these 
crops were cancelled in 1988 and further sale, distribution and use were 
prohibited.  (The use of lead arsenate on citrus was voluntarily 
cancelled in 1987 and EPA granted use of existing stocks until all 
stocks were depleted.  At the time of the voluntary cancellation, it was 
estimated that approximately 100,000 pounds of stocks existed.  EPA 
estimates that 90,000 pounds were used in 1988 and the remaining 10,000 
pounds in the spring of 1989).  Most registrations of both pesticides 
had been suspended prior to the cancellation action for failure of the 
registrant to submit data required by the Agency.  There also had been 
no known use of calcium arsenate for many years.  The cancellation 
actions were based on cancer risks to workers and acute toxicity to the 
general public.  These proposed actions have a 45-day comment period.

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