PEP-Talk, August, 2006
Pesticide Education Program
Ohio State University Extension
Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator
Cindy Folck, Communications
Vol. 10, Issue 7
In This Issue
Clean Sweep Collection Sites
Three sites have been designated for the Clean Sweep Program, which collects farm pesticides for disposal. The sites are:
August 16, 2006 – Fayette County
Fayette County Airport
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Fayette County Airport located two miles north of Washington Court House on Route 38. This collection will be held in conjunction with the Southwest Ohio Corn Growers Field Day.
August 24, 2006 - Putnam County
Putnam County OSU Extension Office, Ottawa
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Collection will be in the parking lot directly behind the OSU Extension Office.
August 31, 2006 - Wayne County
OARDC, Madison Ave., Wooster
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Collection site will be in the parking lot of OARDC in Wooster. Signs will be posted off of Madison Avenue to direct people to the collection site.
The collections are for farm pesticide products only. No household and non-farm pesticides will be accepted. Other hazardous waste such as paint, antifreeze and solvents will not be accepted. The Clean Sweep Program is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Agriculture with cooperation from Ohio State University Extension.
Parkinson's Disease and Pesticides
A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and other institutions concluded that individuals exposed to pesticides have increased risk for Parkinson’s Disease. The study was conducted with farmers, ranchers and fishermen and using surveys over a nine year period as the source of information. The study is published in the journal, Annals of Neurology.
The Mayo Clinic recently completed a study that looked at pesticide exposure and Parkinson’s disease. The study found that men exposed to pesticides were 2.4 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s compared with men who were not exposed. However, exposure to pesticides did not increase the risk factor for women who developed Parkinson’s.
The study looked at people living in Olmsted County, Minn. who developed Parkinson’s disease. The control group was people living in the county who did not develop Parkinson’s. The findings were published in the June issue of the journal, Movement Disorders.
The Agriculture Health Study is also looking at the link between Parkinson’s disease and pesticide exposure. Unlike the previous studies, the Agriculture Health Study documents the pesticide exposure and family history before the onset of the disease to determine if a linkage exists. For more information, visit http://www.aghealth.org or see the next article.
(Sources: Mayo Clinic News, June 14, 2006; Annals of Neurology, published on-line June 26, 2006)
Agriculture Health Study
Over 89,000 applicators and their spouses are enrolled in the Agriculture Health Study, a long-term study that is looking at agricultural exposures and chronic disease. Begun in 1999, the study enrolled private applicators, their spouses and commercial applicators in Iowa and North Carolina. Both states maintained a cancer registry already for the general public.
This study is unique because the participants’ exposure to pesticides and other chemicals are recorded in real time and any chronic illness, such as cancer, is also documented in real time. This is in comparison with other studies that begin when the participant has cancer or other chronic illness, and then relies on the participant’s memory and recall to see what exposures they experienced.
Compared with the general population of both states, private applicators and their spouses had a lower cancer risk. There was little difference in overall cancer rates for the general population and commercial applicators.
Private applicators and their spouses showed significantly lower rates of respiratory, urinary system, digestive system and oral cavity cancers. However, prostate cancer was elevated among both private and commercial applicators. The melanoma form of skin cancer was significantly elevated among spouses of private applicators, but not among the applicators themselves. More detailed information about the study is available at the Agriculture Health Study website: http://www.aghealth.org
FQPA Increases Notices in Pesticide Crop Watch
The Food Quality and Protection Act (FQPA), passed in 1993, included product review deadlines for the U.S. EPA. One of these deadlines was August 3, 2006, when reregistration eligibility decisions (RED) were due for pesticides with food uses and tolerance reassessments. Because of this deadline, several REDs were issued this month for the public comment period. With this process, EPA was required to review the 9,721 tolerances that existed. This has resulted in 559 reregistration actions or eligibility decisions that have resulted in the cancellation of nearly 4, 400 individual pesticide end-use product registrations.
The EPA website has a listing of products that are involved in the review process. You can check the status of these products . You can also go to the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs home page at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides
The next deadline is October 3, 2008, when EPA must complete the REDs for any remaining pesticide products.
Pesticide Crop Watch
Herbicides
Triazines – EPA has completed the cumulative risk assessment for triazine pesticides atrazine, simazine and propazine. Following is information on the individual pesticides. The comment period for the triazine cumulative risk assessment is open until August 21 and more information can be accessed at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/cumulative/triazine_fs.htm
Atrazine – established tolerances for atrazine are considered fully reassessed and meet the FDA safety standard. No changes in atrazine risk mitigation are needed as a result of the triazine cumulative risk assessment.
Simazine – tolerances for simazine meet the FQPA (Food Quality & Protection Act) safety standard. Some risk mitigation measures have been introduced because of human health risks of concern associated with dietary (drinking water), residential and occupational exposures. The measures include prohibiting specific uses, formulations and application methods, reducing maximum application rates, adding setbacks from wells and waterways as well as other items. More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/simazine/index.htm
Propazine – in the U.S., propazine is only registered for indoor greenhouse use and has existing tolerances for residues on sorghum. EPA has found no risk concerns for propazine and no mitigation measures are considered necessary.
Dicamba – EPA has released the reregistration eligibility decision (RED) for dicamba acid and its associated salts. Dicamba is widely used in agricultural, industrial and residential settings. Crops include asparagus, barley, corn (field and pop), grasses in pasture and rangeland, oats, rye, sorghum, soybeans and wheat. Dicamba is eligible for reregistration if risk mitigation is met. Comment period is until Sept. 12 and more information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/dicamba/
Insecticides
Pyrethrin – EPA has released the Reregistration Eligbility Decision (RED) for this botanical insecticide used on many agricultural crops, livestock animals and premises, commercial and industrial facilities and storage areas and wide-area mosquito abatement. Dust applications with power dusters will not be eligible for reregistration. Risk mitigation for pyrethrin includes restricted use of outdoor residential misting systems by establishing a maximum use rate and precautionary label statement. To address risks to workers, reduced application rates, changes in application methods or product formulations and improved protective clothing or equipment will be made. There will be changes in the amount and/or frequency of outdoor sprays and agricultural applications to address risks to aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
Pyrethrins will not be included in the cumulative risk assessment for synthetic pyrethroids. The comment period for pyrethrins is until October 24, 2006 and more information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/pyrethrins/
PBO (piperonyl butoxide) and MGK-264 (n-octyle bicycloheptene dicarboximide) – Both of these chemicals are synergists which enhance the pesticidal properties of other active ingredients, including pyrethrins and pyrethroids. Both will be prohibited in power dusters as an application method. To address risks to workers, mitigation measures include reduced application rates, changes in application methods or product formulations and improved protective clothing or equipment. Specific risk mitigation for the chemicals:
PBO (piperonyl butoxide) – restrict use of outdoor residential misting systems by establishing a maximum use rate and precautionary label statements. The comment period is until October 26, 2006 and more information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/July/Day-26/p11717.htm
MGK-264 (n-octyle bicycloheptene dicarboximide) – restrict carpet dust applications to spot treatments only, prohibit use of products in metered release devices in residential areas and remove day-care centers, nursing homes, schools and hospitals from product labels. The comment period is until October 26, 2006 and more information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/July/Day-26/p11715.htm
Dimethoate – EPA released the interim reregistration eligibility decision (IRED) for this organophosphate insecticide used on a number of fruit, vegetable, grain and field crops, as well as ornamentals and non-cropland. Concerns about dimethoate include worker exposure and toxicity to birds, aquatic invertebrates and small mammals. Proposed risk mitigation includes reduced maximum application rates, reduced allowable number of applications and required intervals between applications will be extended. Information about vegetated buffer strips will be on the label and reentry intervals will be lengthened. Comment period is until September 11, 2006, and more information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op/dimethoate.htm
Fungicides
Pyraclostrobin – The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed objections to the final rule that established new pesticide tolerances for this fungicide. The objection says EPA unlawfully removed the additional 10x safety factor for the protection of infants and children in their review of the pesticide. New tolerances for pyraclostrobin were established for some beans and legume vegetables. Tolerances were increased for peas and beans, dried shelled, except soybeans, and strawberry. Comment period on this objection is until September 18, 2006. More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/July/Day-19/p11480.htm
(Sources for Pesticide Crop Watch: U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs)
Upcoming Events
Wood Destroying Insect Inspection
October 4, 2006
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Taught at ODA in Reynoldsburg
Meets mandatory training requirement for Wood – Destroying Insect Inspection License
Ohio Commercial Recertification Schools
General Schools (turf, ornamental, industrial vegetation and pest control)
Akron – November 21, 2006
Wilmington – December 14, 2006
Perrysburg – February 8, 2007
Columbus – February 27, 2007
Field Crop Conferences (agronomic pest control and agriculture weed)
Lima – December 19, 2006
Wooster – January 17, 2007
Pesticide Applicator Training Inservice for County Educators
December 6 and 7, 2006
Agriculture Administration Auditorium, OSU Campus - Columbus
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OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veteran status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, OSU Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868
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