PEP-Talk, October, 2003

PEP-Talk, October, 2003

Pesticide Education Program
Ohio State University Extension
Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator
Cindy Folck, Communications
Vol. 7, Issue 10

In This Issue

PAT Agent Inservice

Voluntary Cancellation of Creosote

Atrazine in the News, Again

DuPont Shifts Focus to Insecticides

Test for Pesticide Exposure in the Womb

Methyl Parathion Study on the Web

Plantibodies from Tobacco

EPA Approval Sought for Mycofumigant

City Can't Protect Prairie Dogs

Pesticide Crop Watch

Upcoming Events

PAT Agent Inservice

Mark your calendars for the Pesticide Applicator Training Agent Inservice on January 7 & 8, 2004. The event will be held in the Agriculture Auditorium in the Agriculture Administration Building on OSU main campus in Columbus. The agenda will include horticulture updates in the morning of January 7 with regulation and health updates in the afternoon of January 7 along with discussions of cost recovery. January 8 will focus on agronomic updates. Registration information and a detailed agenda will be coming out soon.

Voluntary Cancellation of Creosote

EPA has received a request by registrants to cancel some uses of creosote and acid copper chromate (ACC), two chemicals used as wood preservatives. The following brand-name creosote products will be cancelled: Coal Tar Creosote, Creosote and Creosote Solution manufactured by Coopers Creek Chemical Corporation, KMG-Bernuth, Inc., Koppers, Inc. Railworks Wood Products or Rutgers Chemicals AG. Osmose, Inc. the sole registrant of ACC, is canceling their ACC products.

Non-pressure treatments for home and farm use, ground line treatment of utility poles, end cuts, piling applications/repair, pole framing and railroad tie uses-repair is being terminated for the following products: C-4 Brand Black Creosote Coal Tar Solution, C-4 Brand Coopersote Creosote Oil, KMG-B Coal Tar Creosote, Creosote Oil-24CB, Creosote/Coal Tar Solution and Creosote Oil manufactured by Coopers Creek Chemical Corporation, KMG-Bernuth, Inc., Koppers, Inc. Railworks Wood Products or Rutgers Chemicals AG.

The cancellations will become effective December 31, 2004. No product will be manufactured after this date. Existing stock already in the hands of dealers or users can be distributed, sold or used legally until the supply is gone. All usage of the product must comply with the EPA-approved label. For more information about the cancellation. (Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, September 29, 2003)

Atrazine in the News, Again

The Natural Resource Defense Council has filed an Endangered Species Act litigation against EPA regarding atrazine use in the Chesapeake Bay area in Maryland. The endangered species listed in the lawsuit include several amphibians, reptiles, fish and aquatic invertebrates.

In an unrelated story, EPA issued a no-effects determination on August 1st regarding atrazine effects on endangered salmon species in the Pacific Northwest. In this risk analysis, EPA determined that none of the Northwest atrazine uses pose the excessive risk to salmon alleged by the environmental groups. As part of a previous lawsuit settlement, EPA will still consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the risk analysis.

Currently, atrazine is in the final stages of review for an amended Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for the herbicide, which is due for completion at the end of this month. The amended IRED will include consideration of the effects of atrazine on amphibians. Information on the current IRED is available on the Pesticide Education Program website on the "Agent Information" page. (Sources: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 44; EPA Office of Pesticide Programs News Release, 1/31/03)

DuPont Shifts Focus to Insecticides

DuPont is shifting its research and discovery focus to disease and insects, according to the head of the company's crop protection business. The bulk of DuPont's sales still remain in weed control, however herbicide sales have shrunk since Monsanto introduced Roundup Ready crops. In a speech to Wall Street analysts, the company representative sees fast growth in insecticides such as DuPont's Steward and Avaunt brands, labeled for apples. (Source: Reuters News Article, September 10, 2003)

Test for Pesticide Exposure in the Womb

Researchers have discovered a way to measure pesticides and other toxic chemicals in amniotic fluid. Using the same procedures to measure pesticide exposure in urine, the researchers measured pesticide metabolites in the fluid which surrounds the fetus in the womb. The original research was done with 100 women and researchers plan to include more women in the testing for non-persistent pesticides in amniotic fluid as well as maternal urine and blood concurrently. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 44)

Methyl Parathion Study on the Web

A study on the neurobehavioral effects of methyl parathion exposure is available on the web. The study evaluates children exposed to methyl parathion, which was sprayed illegally for pest control in Mississippi and Ohio residences. The study included children who were six years of age or younger at the time of the spraying and a local comparison groups of unexposed children. The children exposed to methyl parathion had more difficulties with tasks involving short term memory and attention. There were no differences between exposed and unexposed children in tests for general intelligence, the integration of visual and motor skills, and multi-step processing.

Plantibodies from Tobacco

Plant antibodies have been harvested to detect pathogens in food. Developed at the University of Guelph in Ontario, the antibodies to botulinum toxin type A have been harvested from a crop of tobacco plants. The antibodies will be used in a diagnostic tool to detect the Clostridium botulinum toxin in food. Toxin Alert, Inc., the company who funded the research, is developing film wraps and bags to detect pathogens in food. (Source: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, August, 2003)

City Can't Protect Prairie Dogs

The city council of Boulder, Col., recently shelved their prohibition against poisoning prairie dogs in the city limits. City council was contacted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) who noted that the ordinance, passed in 1999, was unenforceable against licensed applicators. CDA informed the city that its statewide authority to license exterminators and their activities pre-empted the local ordinance. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 46)

EPA Approval Sought for Mycofumigant

A biotech company has announced a registration submission to EPA for Muscodor albus, a newly identified microorganism the company believes has the potential to replace methyl bromide. AgraQuest, Inc., says M. albus produces volatile natural compounds that are extremely effective in controlling many plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria as well as microorganisms that are pathogenic to humans. The company calls it the world's first mycofumigant. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 44)

Pesticide Crop Watch

Insecticides

Enstar II (s-kinoprene) - Wellmark International added to their label the control of thrips.

Pylon (Chlorfenapyr) - BASF added to their label the control of foliar nematodes.

Sevin 50 WP (carbaryl) - Bayer added to their label the control of mosquitoes and the usage in forest areas and rangelands.

Surround (kaolin) - Engelhardt Corp received EPA approval to control lancanobia cutworms in apples.

Herbicides

Betasan 7-G (bensulide) - Gowan had deleted from their label the usage on deciduous trees, shrubs and evergreens.

Fungicides

Agri Fos (potassium phosphate) - AgriChem Mfg. has added to their label the usage on additional ornamentals, turf, tomatoes and brassica vegetables.

(Source for Pesticide Crop Watch: Agricultural Chemical News, Vol. 288)

Upcoming Events

PAT Agent Inservice
January 7 & 8, 2004
Agriculture Administration Building Auditorium
Ohio State University Campus, Columbus

General Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Conferences
(turf, ornamental, pest control, industrial vegetation)
November 25, 2003 - Cleveland/Independence Holiday Inn
December 17, 2003 - Dayton Convention Center
January 14, 2004 - Perrysburg Holiday Inn, French Quarters
February 17, 2004 - Columbus Convention Center

Field Crops Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Conferences
January 28, 2004 - Lima Holiday Inn
February 4, 2004 - Fawcett Center, Ohio State University, Columbus

Commercial New Applicator Training
March 9, 2004
Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg

Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Training
February 26, 2004, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg

------------------------------------------------------------------------

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.

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	PEP-Talk, October, 2003 Pesticide Education Program Ohio State University Extension Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator Cindy Folck, Communications Vol. 7, Issue 10 In This Issue PAT Agent Inservice Voluntary Cancellation of Creosote Atrazine in the News, Again DuPont Shifts Focus to Insecticides Test for Pesticide Exposure in the Womb Methyl Parathion Study on the Web Plantibodies from Tobacco EPA Approval Sought for Mycofumigant City Can't Protect Prairie Dogs Pesticide Crop Watch Upcoming Events PAT Agent Inservice Mark your calendars for the Pesticide Applicator Training Agent Inservice on January 7 & 8, 2004. The event will be held in the Agriculture Auditorium in the Agriculture Administration Building on OSU main campus in Columbus. The agenda will include horticulture updates in the morning of January 7 with regulation and health updates in the afternoon of January 7 along with discussions of cost recovery. January 8 will focus on agronomic updates. Registration information and a detailed agenda will be coming out soon. Voluntary Cancellation of Creosote EPA has received a request by registrants to cancel some uses of creosote and acid copper chromate (ACC), two chemicals used as wood preservatives. The following brand-name creosote products will be cancelled: Coal Tar Creosote, Creosote and Creosote Solution manufactured by Coopers Creek Chemical Corporation, KMG-Bernuth, Inc., Koppers, Inc. Railworks Wood Products or Rutgers Chemicals AG. Osmose, Inc. the sole registrant of ACC, is canceling their ACC products. Non-pressure treatments for home and farm use, ground line treatment of utility poles, end cuts, piling applications/repair, pole framing and railroad tie uses-repair is being terminated for the following products: C-4 Brand Black Creosote Coal Tar Solution, C-4 Brand Coopersote Creosote Oil, KMG-B Coal Tar Creosote, Creosote Oil-24CB, Creosote/Coal Tar Solution and Creosote Oil manufactured by Coopers Creek Chemical Corporation, KMG-Bernuth, Inc., Koppers, Inc. Railworks Wood Products or Rutgers Chemicals AG. The cancellations will become effective December 31, 2004. No product will be manufactured after this date. Existing stock already in the hands of dealers or users can be distributed, sold or used legally until the supply is gone. All usage of the product must comply with the EPA-approved label. For more information about the cancellation. (Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, September 29, 2003) Atrazine in the News, Again The Natural Resource Defense Council has filed an Endangered Species Act litigation against EPA regarding atrazine use in the Chesapeake Bay area in Maryland. The endangered species listed in the lawsuit include several amphibians, reptiles, fish and aquatic invertebrates. In an unrelated story, EPA issued a no-effects determination on August 1st regarding atrazine effects on endangered salmon species in the Pacific Northwest. In this risk analysis, EPA determined that none of the Northwest atrazine uses pose the excessive risk to salmon alleged by the environmental groups. As part of a previous lawsuit settlement, EPA will still consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the risk analysis. Currently, atrazine is in the final stages of review for an amended Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for the herbicide, which is due for completion at the end of this month. The amended IRED will include consideration of the effects of atrazine on amphibians. Information on the current IRED is available on the Pesticide Education Program website on the "Agent Information" page. (Sources: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 44; EPA Office of Pesticide Programs News Release, 1/31/03) DuPont Shifts Focus to Insecticides DuPont is shifting its research and discovery focus to disease and insects, according to the head of the company's crop protection business. The bulk of DuPont's sales still remain in weed control, however herbicide sales have shrunk since Monsanto introduced Roundup Ready crops. In a speech to Wall Street analysts, the company representative sees fast growth in insecticides such as DuPont's Steward and Avaunt brands, labeled for apples. (Source: Reuters News Article, September 10, 2003) Test for Pesticide Exposure in the Womb Researchers have discovered a way to measure pesticides and other toxic chemicals in amniotic fluid. Using the same procedures to measure pesticide exposure in urine, the researchers measured pesticide metabolites in the fluid which surrounds the fetus in the womb. The original research was done with 100 women and researchers plan to include more women in the testing for non-persistent pesticides in amniotic fluid as well as maternal urine and blood concurrently. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 44) Methyl Parathion Study on the Web A study on the neurobehavioral effects of methyl parathion exposure is available on the web. The study evaluates children exposed to methyl parathion, which was sprayed illegally for pest control in Mississippi and Ohio residences. The study included children who were six years of age or younger at the time of the spraying and a local comparison groups of unexposed children. The children exposed to methyl parathion had more difficulties with tasks involving short term memory and attention. There were no differences between exposed and unexposed children in tests for general intelligence, the integration of visual and motor skills, and multi-step processing. Plantibodies from Tobacco Plant antibodies have been harvested to detect pathogens in food. Developed at the University of Guelph in Ontario, the antibodies to botulinum toxin type A have been harvested from a crop of tobacco plants. The antibodies will be used in a diagnostic tool to detect the Clostridium botulinum toxin in food. Toxin Alert, Inc., the company who funded the research, is developing film wraps and bags to detect pathogens in food. (Source: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, August, 2003) City Can't Protect Prairie Dogs The city council of Boulder, Col., recently shelved their prohibition against poisoning prairie dogs in the city limits. City council was contacted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) who noted that the ordinance, passed in 1999, was unenforceable against licensed applicators. CDA informed the city that its statewide authority to license exterminators and their activities pre-empted the local ordinance. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 46) EPA Approval Sought for Mycofumigant A biotech company has announced a registration submission to EPA for Muscodor albus, a newly identified microorganism the company believes has the potential to replace methyl bromide. AgraQuest, Inc., says M. albus produces volatile natural compounds that are extremely effective in controlling many plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria as well as microorganisms that are pathogenic to humans. The company calls it the world's first mycofumigant. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 44) Pesticide Crop Watch Insecticides Enstar II (s-kinoprene) - Wellmark International added to their label the control of thrips. Pylon (Chlorfenapyr) - BASF added to their label the control of foliar nematodes. Sevin 50 WP (carbaryl) - Bayer added to their label the control of mosquitoes and the usage in forest areas and rangelands. Surround (kaolin) - Engelhardt Corp received EPA approval to control lancanobia cutworms in apples. Herbicides Betasan 7-G (bensulide) - Gowan had deleted from their label the usage on deciduous trees, shrubs and evergreens. Fungicides Agri Fos (potassium phosphate) - AgriChem Mfg. has added to their label the usage on additional ornamentals, turf, tomatoes and brassica vegetables. (Source for Pesticide Crop Watch: Agricultural Chemical News, Vol. 288) Upcoming Events PAT Agent Inservice January 7 & 8, 2004 Agriculture Administration Building Auditorium Ohio State University Campus, Columbus General Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Conferences (turf, ornamental, pest control, industrial vegetation) November 25, 2003 - Cleveland/Independence Holiday Inn December 17, 2003 - Dayton Convention Center January 14, 2004 - Perrysburg Holiday Inn, French Quarters February 17, 2004 - Columbus Convention Center Field Crops Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Conferences January 28, 2004 - Lima Holiday Inn February 4, 2004 - Fawcett Center, Ohio State University, Columbus Commercial New Applicator Training March 9, 2004 Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Training February 26, 2004, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg ------------------------------------------------------------------------ All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension. Top of Page Return to Home