EPA to Cut Widely Used ("Registered") Pesticide

Subject:    EPA to Cut Widely Used ("Registered") Pesticide (POISON)
Date:      Thu, 04 May 2000 16:54:04 -0400
From:        Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To:     Lyndon Hawkins <hawkins@empm.cdpr.ca.gov>
          Senior Research Scientist
          State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation - Integrated Pest Management

Dear Lyndon, I thought you might like to read a front page story that appeared Thursday, May 4, 2000, 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time entitled: EPA to cut widely used pesticide - by Hal Bernton - Seattle Times staff reporter.

The Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to restrict one of the Northwest's - and the nation's - most widely used insecticides, a high-profile action that follows years of sparring with industry scientists over health risks.

The insecticide chlorpyrifos is sprayed on more than 80 percent of Washington's commercial apple orchards and frequently applied under the trade name Dursban in and around homes, schools and businesses. People put Dursban flea collars on their pets, dust Dursban ant-killing powder on their rugs, and spray bug-killing Dursban formulas on lawns and vegetable gardens.

An announcement on the insecticide is expected later this spring, probably this month. The scope of the restrictions is still undecided, according to EPA officials.

Environmentalists and consumer groups are pushing for a ban or drastic reduction of most uses while manufacturers, pest-control businesses and farmers are trying to minimize the changes.

The policy change is being tracked by Washington fruit growers who fear it may throw another unwelcome spotlight on chemical use in the orchards. Earlier this spring, the Yakima-based Northwest Horticulture Council issued a "chemical alert," telling farmers that the restrictions could include cutbacks in apple-orchard use and that the chemical's review is receiving "the highest level of attention from EPA leadership."

But the EPA restrictions are expected to hit hardest at residential and commercial uses of chlorpyrifos. The chemical (active ingredient) is registered for use in more than 800 products. It kills by overwhelming a bug's nervous system.

Commercial applicators use chlorpyrifos to kill termites, the biggest house-pest problem in Eastern Washington, and more infrequently to treat carpenter ants, the biggest house-pest problem west of the Cascades. Nationally, the use of chlorpyrifos is so widespread that trace amounts were detected in the urine of more than 80 percent of 1,082 people tested in two studies.

Though most consumers use this product (acutely) without ill effects, a few people heavily exposed to Dursban have reported headaches, blurred vision, muscle weakness and problems with memory, according to EPA documents. The EPA also is wary of subtler effects on the human nervous system, especially in children, who appear more vulnerable to the chemical.

In a preliminary risk study released last year, EPA officials evaluated nine scenarios for home use of the product and found that eight of them substantially exceeded acceptable risk levels.

If these findings hold up under the final review, the federal agency will need to make changes in residential use, said Jerome Blondell, an EPA epidemiologist.

Officials of Dow AgroSciences of Indianapolis, the major manufacturer of Dursban, dispute the federal science and point to numerous studies they say indicate the chemical is safe. In a rebuttal document, company officials say the EPA study "contains numerous errors and omissions of fact and is premised on fundamental errors of science and law."

Gary Hamlin, a Dow AgroSciences spokesman, said that there is no justification for any new restrictions and that the product will not cause health problems unless seriously misused.

Meanwhile, environmental and consumer groups say there is plenty of evidence to justify an EPA crackdown on chlorpyrifos.

"We're gearing up for a big fight and preparing to put a lot of resources into this," said Todd Hettenbach of the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D.C.-based group.

The EPA safety review is triggered by the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act. The legislation requires that pesticides be safe for the most vulnerable elements of the population, including children.

The EPA is putting a high priority on reviewing chlorpyrifos and other chemicals known as organophosphates, which all have similar effects on the nervous system. Last August the EPA restricted two of those chemicals, ending the use of methyl parathion in apple orchards and placing new limits on the use of azinophos methyl.

Even before the Food Quality Protection Act, the EPA had begun to scrutinize chlorpyrifos. It's much less toxic than methyl parathion and azinphos methyl, but it's used millions of times each year, often indoors close to people.

In 1995, the EPA found Dow had failed to fully disclose reports of illness allegedly caused by chlorpyrifos. The agency fined the company $875,000. EPA officials then began investigating chlorpyrifos-illness reports to poison-control centers around the country.

In 1996, they found 1,109 reports of illness due to chlorpyrifos. Most of these reports involved minor problems but more than 100 involved moderate to severe problems, according to EPA documents.

EPA officials also have analyzed research indicating humans may be more sensitive to the chemical than laboratory animals, and studies indicating the chemical may pose special risks to developing nervous systems. Then last fall, the EPA released the initial risk-assessment report for chlorpyrifos, which called for a new safety standard.

The old standard for use of the chemical was set at 100 times below the level expected to harm a nerve enzyme, cholinesterase, in laboratory animals. The latest report recommended a 300-fold safety margin. At that level, many residential and commercial pest-control uses now allowed would be deemed to pose unacceptable risks.

Consumer groups, environmental groups and some university scientists said that safety margin would still be too low. And in recent weeks the EPA has been considering a 1,000-fold safety margin.

`We think that's essential for protecting the public," said Hettenbach, of the Environmental Working Group

If the EPA opts for the 1,000-fold level, then some foods that occasionally have chlorpyrifos residue would be classified unacceptable diet risks. In Washington, the chemical is sprayed on strawberries, grapes, pears, onions and many other crops. But state farm representatives say the apple industry appears to be the only one likely to get hit with restrictions.

A 1996 USDA survey found 26 percent of apples contained trace residue of chlorpyrifos. In Washington state, the nation's leading apple producer, chlorpyrifos is mostly sprayed on the trees while they are in bloom. But it is sometimes used to combat pest problems that show up late in the season. In an effort to reduce those residues, the EPA may choose to end late-season orchard use.

Grower representatives say that some new chemicals appear to be promising alternatives to chlorpyrifos. But they're still lobbying the EPA to retain the current uses on apples.

"If we lose the post-bloom use it wouldn't be a huge blow," said Mike Willett of the Northwest Horticulture Association. "But there are still a few minor pests where there still aren't a lot of good options . . .. We think any changes the EPA makes should be based on good science."

Well Lyndon, I am continually amazed when the POISON "industry" continually comes out with this old "sound science" chestnut/lie - there is no "sound science" or "legitimate reason" for using dangerous "registered" POISONS that harm people, pets and the environment; bankrupt farmers and create resistant pest problems-- especially when there are safe and far more effective alternatives. How can there be any "science" when the entire POISON product/formula has never been adequately tested or evaluated and the risk/benefit "formula" is based solely on that particular TOXIN!

You may wish to check out another article, entitled: "Still Lazy After All These Years - The Myth of Product Safety," on the Internet at - http://www.ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-02g.html

(Editor's Note: Watch the money trail on this one. As always with Dow - Profits before People.)

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