PEP-Talk, November, 2009
Pesticide Safety Education Program
Ohio State University Extension
Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator
Cindy Folck, Communications
Dennis Mills, Private Applicator
Vol. 13, Issue 10
IN THIS ISSUE
Pesticide Applicator Training Educator Inservice
Online Lessons for Pesticide New Applicator
Atrazine: Timeline for New Evaluation
Testing for Hormone Effects Announced by EPA
Repairs to Pesticide Containers
New Jersey Township Not Liable for Contaminated Soils
Illinois Study of Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder
Pesticide Crop Watch – Disulfoton, Methamidophos
Upcoming Events
PESTICIDE APPLICATOR EDUCATOR INSERVICE
The Pesticide Applicator Training Educator Inservice will be December 9 and 10, 2009, and held at the Ohio 4-H Center on OSU Campus in Columbus. There is no cost to attend the inservice this year, but we still need registrations for our lunch counts.
Registration information is available on the Pesticide Safety Education Program website at: http://pested.osu.edu This inservice is for Extension educators, specialists, associates or program assistants involved with pesticide applicator training. An agenda is available to download on the website.
ONLINE LESSONS FOR PESTICIDE NEW APPLICATOR
New applicator lessons are now available online. These lessons are designed to help applicators prepare for the Core exam. The lessons can be purchased as a complete package or individually. When purchasing the lessons, you will have access for 30 days. More information is available at http://pested.osu.edu/online.html
The online lessons also qualify for Ohio Trained Serviceperson training. The employee needs to complete the lessons and then can download a certificate. The certificate is signed by the employee and the licensed commercial applicator who is supervising them. The certificate becomes part of the employee’s personnel file.
ATRAZINE: TIMELINE FOR NEW EVALUATION
EPA has started a new evaluation of the human health effects of atrazine. The evaluation will determine if EPA needs to revise the current risk assessment of the pesticide and if new restrictions are necessary. The evaluations will look at the potential cancer and non-cancer effects of atrazine and the potential association with birth defects, low birth weight and premature births.
This month, EPA intends to present the evaluation plan to the Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) which was established under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). In the following months through September, 2010, EPA will have scientific peer review of its evaluation of atrazine including laboratory animal toxicology studies, selection of safety factors in the risk assessment and the sampling design currently used to monitor drinking water in community water systems. The evaluation will also include the most recent results from the Agricultural Health Study done by the National Cancer Institute. For more information, go to: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/atrazine/
(Source: U.S. EPA)
TESTING FOR HORMONE EFFECTS ANNOUNCED BY EPA
EPA has begun to screen pesticide chemicals for their potential effect on the endocrine system. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interact with and disrupt the hormones produced or secreted by human and animal endocrine systems, which regulate growth, metabolism and reproduction.
Currently, 67 chemicals will be tested during the next four months. The results will be used to determine if additional tests are needed or if other steps are necessary to address these chemicals that potential could be endocrine disruptors. More information is available at http://www.epa.gov/endo/
(Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs)
REPAIRS TO PESTICIDE CONTAINERS
Retailers and distributors may be allowed to repair minor damage to pesticide containers. EPA has an interim policy for them which include an application and review process for a minor repair program.
The policy to designed to allow minor repairs to containers so the product can be used as it was intended instead of becoming waste. More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/containers.htm#container
NEW JERSEY TOWNSHIP NOT LIABLE FOR CONTAMINATED SOILS
A federal court ruled that a New Jersey township was not liable for contaminated soil in a housing development built on a former orchard site. The apple and peach orchard was sold in the 1970s to developers. The suit was brought against the township by 14 families who lived in the housing development.
(Source: The Star-Ledger, www.nj.com, 10/7/2009.)
ILLINOIS STUDY OF HONEY BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER
Researchers released a study that showed fragmented ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was overrepresented in bees affected by Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). The study used a honey bee genome project that was completed in 2006 and a genome-based tool, the microarray, to look for differences in gene expression in healthy bees and those from hives afflicted by CCD.
The research team included researchers from the University of Illinois and USDA. They indicated that with a loss of ribosomal function, the bees would be unable to respond to fungal infections, bacteria, inadequate nutrition or other factors. The researchers also considered if the varroa mite could affect the ribosome breakdown. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and is available at: http://www.pnas.org/content/106/35/14790.abstract?sid=1cad7e30-7894-408f-b96c-da9868fee2b3
(Source: Illinois Pesticide Review, University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program, September/October, 2009)
PESTICIDE CROP WATCH
INSECTICIDES
Disulfoton and Methamidophos – EPA has issued a final order approving the voluntary cancellation of these organophosphate insecticides. The cancellations will be effective on December 31, 2009 for all products. The only exceptions are Disulfoton Technical made by Bayer Crop Science and Flower Rose and Shrub Care (disulfoton) made by Bayer Advanced which will be cancelled on December 31, 2010. More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2009/September/Day-23/p22921.htm
UPCOMING EVENTS
More information about these events at http://pested.osu.edu
OSU EXTENSION EDUCATOR INSERVICE
December 9 and 10, 2009
OSU Campus, Columbus
NEW APPLICATOR CORE AND TRAINED SERVICEPERSON TRAINING
November 19, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
Inn at Hocking College
Nelsonville, Ohio
See http://pested.osu.edu for more information.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATOR RECERTIFICATION CONFERENCES
Field Crop Conference
December 16, 2009 – OSU – Lima Campus
January 13, 2010 – Dayton Convention Center
March 9, 2010 – Columbus Convention Center
General Conference
January 13, 2010 – Dayton Convention Center
February 17, 2010 – Sandusky, Kalahari Conference Center
March 3, 2010 – Akron, John S. Knight Center
March 9, 2010 – Columbus Convention Center
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Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with University State Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.
Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University Extension
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868
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