PESTICIDE BRIEFS (12/21/01)

CONTENTS:
(1)  PESTICIDE PROFILES ON THE WEB
(2)  ETHYL-PARATHION PHASE-OUT
(3)  DIAZINON CANCELLATIONS
(4)  ETHION VOLUNTARY CANCELLATION
(5)  METOLACHLOR VOLUNTARY CANCELLATIONS
(6)  CHLORPYRIFOS PRODUCT CANCELLATIONS ANNOUNCED
(7)  ATRAZINE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
(8)  BIOTERRORISM
(9)  VINCLOZOLIN (CURALAN, RONILAN) CROP CANCELLATIONS & STOP USE DATES
(10)  NEW RESTRICTIONS ON AZINPHOS-METHYL AND PHOSMET TO PROTECT AGRICULTURAL WORKERS

PESTICIDE PROFILES ON THE WEB
Pesticide Profiles can be found on the web site of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).  Go to: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/ .  Profiles cover a Public Health Statement, which includes plain English answers to the following questions:
1.1    What is this substance?
1.2    What happens to it when it enters the environment?
1.3    How might I be exposed to it?
1.4    How can it enter and leave my body?
1.5    How can it affect my health?
1.6    Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed to it?
1.7    What recommendations has the federal government made to protect human health?
1.8    Where can I get more information?
Also covered are:
Chemical and physical information
Production, import, use, and disposal
Potential for human exposure
Analytical methods
Regulations and advisories

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ETHYL-PARATHION PHASE-OUT (From Bill Hoffmen, Penn State)
EPA has announced details to completely phase out Ethyl-Parathion on alfalfa, barley, corn, cotton, canola, sorghum, soybean, sunflower and wheat.  The manufacturing of products containing Ethyl-Parathion must end by December 31, 2001.  The sale and distribution of those products will be illegal after August 31, 2003.  The use of products containing Ethyl-Parathion will be illegal after October 31st, 2003.

CAUTION:  **Do not confuse this compound with Methyl-Parathion (PENNCAP-M).**

This phase out is due to voluntarily cancellation requests by Ethyl-Parathion manufacturers.  These manufacturers, the associated products and their EPA Registration Numbers include:
Cheminova, Inc. -- Parathion 4EC (67760-37), Parathion 8EC (67760-38), Ethyl-Methyl Parathion 6-3 EC (67760-39)
Universal Cooperatives, Inc. -- Red Panther Parathion 8 (1386-646)
Wilber Ellis, Co. -- Parathion 4 Spray (2935-481), Parathion 8 Aqua (2935-483) 
Amvac, Chemical Co. -- Parathion 8 (5481-435), Parathion 4E (5481-436) 
Helena Chemical -- Parathion 4E Emulsifiable Insecticide Concentrate (5905-513), Parathion 8E Emulsifiable Insecticide Concentrate (5905-514), Parathion - Methyl Parathion 6-3 Insecticide Concentrate (5905-515), Helena Parathion 8 Flowable Insecticide Concentrate (5905-516)
Agriliance, LLC -- Parathion 8 (9779-322)
Micro-Flo, Co. -- Micro Flo Co./Parathion 8E (51036-180)

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ETHION VOLUNTARY CANCELLATION
The registrant of Ethion, an OP registered for use on cattle in ear tags, has requested  voluntary cancellation.  According to the request, sale of manufacturing use products will end October 1, 2003.  EPA expects that use of such products would end by December 31, 2003.  End-use products could be sold until October 1, 2004, and EPA expects use of these products would end December 31, 2004.  EPA's risk assessment documents for ethion are available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/ethion.htm

METOLACHLOR VOLUNTARY CANCELLATIONS
Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. has requested removal of stone fruits and almonds from the metolachlor label.  EPA is reconsidering the tolerances for metolachlor because of the additional requirements of FQPA.  EPA plans to complete the tolerance reassessment decision for this pesticide in 2002. 

CHLORPYRIFOS PRODUCT CANCELLATIONS ANNOUNCED
EPA has issued an order deleting uses and canceling products containing chlorpyrifos.  This order follows up on EPA's June 27, 2001, proposal to cancel 76 products and modify registrations for 18 products.   The agreement requires deletion of the following uses:
--   all termite control uses (these will be phased out, and the concentration of chlorpyrifos in the products will be limited during the phase-out);
--   all residential uses (except for ant and roach baits in child resistant packaging and fire ant mound drenches for public health purposes by licensed applicators and mosquito control for public health purposes by public health agencies);
--   all indoor non-residential uses (except ship holds, industrial plants, manufacturing plants, food processing plants, containerized baits in CRP, and processed wood products treated during the manufacturing process at the manufacturing site or at the mill);
--   all outdoor nonresidential sites (except golf courses, road medians, industrial plant sites, fence posts, utility poles, railroad ties, landscape timbers, logs, pallets, wooden containers, poles, posts, processed wood products, manhole covers, and underground utility cable and conduits; and 
--   fire ant mound drenches for public health purposes by licensed applicators and mosquito control for public health purposes by public health agencies).

The last date for retail sales of products included in this notice bearing instructions for the prohibited uses is December 31, 2001. Sales of preconstructon termite use products (with reduced concentration of chlorpyrifos) will end December 31, 2005, unless EPA issues a written determination that the use may continue.  Except for manufacturing-use and preconstruction termite-use products, existing stocks of products listed in this notice may be used until they are exhausted, in accordance with existing labeling. Information about the agreement to reduce risks associated with use of chlorpyrifos can be found on EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/chlorpyrifos.htm

ATRAZINE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
EPA has released the preliminary ecological risk assessment for atrazine.  Go to:  http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm . Atrazine is a herbicide used widely on major food crops as well as non-crop areas across the U.S.  In the environment, atrazine is mobile and persistent, found in surface and ground waters, and is widely detected in air and rainfall samples.  EPA's preliminary ecological risk assessment for atrazine indicates that risks exceed levels of concern for chronic effects on mammals, birds, fish, aquatic invertebrates, and nontarget plants at maximum and in some cases typical use rates.  A refined risk assessment focusing on the aquatic environment identified concerns for adverse effects on freshwater and estuarine plants and their communities, as well as indirect adverse effects on aquatic invertebrate and fish populations at monitored atrazine levels in surface waters.  EPA's next steps will include developing a revised risk assessment and risk reduction options for atrazine.  EPA will invite public comment on the revised atrazine risk assessment and risk reduction options when they are completed, in 2002.

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BIOTERRORISM
In response to 9/11, Washington State University has posted several articles on Bioterrorism on their web site at:  http://aenews.wsu.edu .  Articles Include:
1.  Terrorists at the Table, Part I:     FDA Looks at Food Bioterrorism
2.  Terrorists at the Table, Part II:  Developing an Anti-Terrorism Plan
3.  Terrorism on the Hoof: Livestock as a Bioterrorism Target
4.  The "New" Bioterrorism" A Public Health Perspective
5.  Pesticides as Weapons: Agrichemical Industry's Role in Anti-terrorism
6.  Crop Duster Concerns: NW Aerial Applicators Respond to FBI/FAA

VINCLOZOLIN (CURALAN, RONILAN) CROP CANCELLATIONS & STOP USE DATES
EPA has released final details of vinclozolin use cancellations for raspberries, ornamentals, lettuce and succulent beans.  These details include dates for the last legal use of products containing vinclozolin by pesticide applicators.  Sale of existing product stocks by retailers for raspberries and ornamentals (except conifer seedlings) became illegal on Tuesday, October 15th, 2001.  The last date for legal use of  vinclozolin for these applications will be December 15, 2001.

Sale of existing product stocks by retailers for conifer seedlings will become illegal on October 15th, 2003.  The last date for legal use of vinclozolin for this application will be December 15th, 2003.  Sale of existing product stocks by retailers for lettuce and succulent beans will become illegal on July 15th, 2005.  The last date for legal use of vinclozolin for this application will be November 30, 2005.
- From Bill Hoffman, Penn State

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NEW RESTRICTIONS ON AZINPHOS-METHYL AND PHOSMET TO PROTECT AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
EPA has developed new restrictions on the use of azinphos-methyl and phosmet to increase protection of agricultural workers.  For azinphos-methyl, 28 crop uses are being canceled, seven crop uses are being phased-out over four years, and eight crop uses will be allowed to continue "time-limited" registration for another four years.  Prior to the expiration of the four-year period, EPA will conduct a comprehensive  review of these eight crop uses to determine if it should continue to allow registration.  Azinphos-methyl is registered by Bayer AG and Makhteshim-Agan Industries.  The crop uses being phased out in four years include those for: almonds, tart cherries, cotton, cranberries, peaches, pistachios, and walnuts; the crops with time-limited registrations include: apples/crab apples, blueberries, sweet cherries, pears, pine seed orchards, brussels sprouts, cane berries, and the use of azinphos-methyl by nurseries for quarantine requirements.

For phosmet, three uses are being voluntarily cancelled, nine crops are being authorized for use under specific terms for five years, and 33 crops are being approved for continued use. The new measures on phosmet are being implemented under an agreement with the registrant, Gowan Co.  The three voluntary cancellations include use on:  domestic pets, household ornamentals, and household fruit trees; phosmet, however, is used infrequently for these applications. For phosmet, a group of nine crops will be authorized for use for five years under specific terms: apples, apricots, blueberries, crab apples, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums/dried plums.

To enhance protection of agricultural workers during the phase-out and time-limited registration periods, a variety of stringent new precautions are being implemented to reduce exposure, including longer periods before a worker can enter a treated area, significantly limiting the number of applications, and prohibiting aerial application for almost all uses.  During this period, EPA will also require that studies on the potential health effects on workers be conducted to help ensure that they are not exposed to unacceptable levels of these pesticides.  If new information shows unreasonable risks, the Agency could take immediate action to remove any of these uses.

For the 28 crop uses being canceled  for azinphos-methyl, there will be no phase-out period since there are viable alternatives.  Seven crops are being allowed to continue for four years to facilitate transition to viable alternatives.  Also, the Agency will allow a time-limited registration for four years for eight specific uses of azinphos-methyl.  This four year period will allow farmers and others to develop and implement viable alternatives.   Prior to the expiration of the time-limited registrations, the Agency will consider whether to authorize any further extension.

During the period that these uses remain for azinphos-methyl and phosmet, EPA will require new health effects data, new information relating to the potential benefits, and any other information which provides for more accurate assessment of the potential risks and benefits.  As the Agency moves forward with these decisions, it will work with the manufacturers, growers, farm workers, and other affected parties to assure that these important actions are implemented in an expeditious and effective manner.  For more details, go to:  http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/azm_fs.htm