PEP-Talk, June, 2003

PEP-Talk, June, 2003

Pesticide Education Program
Ohio State University Extension
Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator
Cindy Folck, Communications
Vol. 7, Issue 6

In This Issue

Mosquito Vector Control Workshops

Federal Funding for Pesticide Applicator Training in Jeopardy

Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection

EPA Considers Appealing to the Supreme Court

Pesticide Link Evaluated for Prostate Cancer Risk

Farmer Serving Prison Time for Hiding Seed

Warning for Lice Control with Lindane

Residual Chemicals May Not Pose Risk

Comment Period for Emergency Exemptions

Genome Research Project Begins

Pesticide Crop Watch

Upcoming Events

Mosquito Vector Control Workshops

Just a reminder about the mosquito vector control workshops, coordinated by Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Department of Health. The audience for these workshops are pesticide applicators who will be doing mosquito spraying. Applicators will be able to bring in their mosquito spraying equipment for ULV droplet testing. Educational sessions and ODA license exams are available in only select locations. The dates and locations of the workshops are:

June 10 - Toledo Area Sanitary District, 5015 Stickney Ave., Toledo, ULV droplet testing only - NO education session or ODA license exam testing will be available

June 11 - Lake County Health Department, 550 Black Brook Rd., Painesville Township, Educational session, ODA license exam and ULV droplet testing ALL available.

June 24 - Whitehall Community Park, 402 Hamilton Rd., Whitehall (Columbus area) Educational session, ODA license exam and ULV droplet testing ALL available.

June 25 - Whitehall Community Park, 402 Hamilton Rd., Whitehall (Columbus area) ULV droplet testing only - NO education session or ODA license exam testing will be available

June 26 - Scarlet Oaks Career Development Center, 3254 E. Kemper Rd., Cincinnati Educational session, ODA license exam and ULV droplet testing ALL available.

Registration is $10/person for the educational session or $10/machine for ULV droplet testing. Registration forms and more information is available on the Pesticide Education Program website at http://pested.osu.edu or by calling (614) 292-4070.

Federal Funding for Pesticide Applicator Training in Jeopardy

During the Western Region Pesticide Meeting in early May, an official from EPA announced the agency is considering eliminating the pass-through funding for Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) Program (now called Pesticide Safety Education Program on the national level). This would affect all PAT offices, such as Ohio State University Extension, that use the funds to support training and recertification programs.

U.S. EPA has been instructed to reduce discretionary spending which affects programs such as PAT, Endangered Species and others. The final decision regarding the spending cuts is expected by the beginning of June. The pass-through funds for PAT programming has been stable since the 1970s when the certification and training program for pesticide applicators was started. Stay tuned for more information.

Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection

Training for Wood-Destroying Insect Inspectors will be June 5 at the Ohio Department of Agriculture in Reynoldsburg. This training will fulfill the five hour requirement for people trying to become a licensed inspector. Registration information is available by calling the Pesticide Education Program at (614) 292-4070 or visiting the website at http://pested.osu.edu. The charge is $90 for pre-registration, $100 at the door.

Last year Ohio law changed, requiring anyone who does termite and other wood-destroying insect inspections for real estate transactions to be licensed. Inspectors must attend a five-hour training session and take an exam BEFORE becoming licensed. The inspectors must also have a commercial pesticide applicator license for the termite (10b) category. The next wood-destroying insect inspection training will be in early October.

EPA Considers Appealing to the Supreme Court

EPA is considering asking the U.S. Supreme Court to decide on the interaction of FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act) and the CWA (Clean Water Act) when pesticides are applied above bodies of water.

This is in response to the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision that a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit was needed for aerial applications over bodies of water. The federal court ruled these applications constitute a form of pollution after reviewing a case that involved an aerial silviculture-related pesticide application. Other court cases regarding this subject include pesticides applied to irrigation canals and mosquito spraying over bodies of water for West Nile Virus. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, Nos. 28 & 29)

Pesticide Link Evaluated for Prostate Cancer Risk

The Agricultural Health Study has evaluated possible links between some pesticides and increased risk for prostate cancer among pesticide applicators. The study appears in the May, 2003, issue of the "American Journal of Epidemiology." This study is part of the long-term project designed to evaluate the health experience of farmers, farmer's spouses and pesticide applicators from Iowa and North Carolina.

Since the study began in 1993, 566 of the approximately 55,000 participants have developed prostate cancer. The researchers evaluated the role of 45 pesticides and found that only a few of them showed evidence of a possible association with prostate cancer among the pesticide applicators. Methyl bromide, a fumigant, was the only pesticide associated with an increase in prostate cancer. Currently, methyl bromide is being phased out worldwide as part of the Montreal Protocol to reduce ozone depleting substances.

Six other pesticides were associated with increased risk of prostate cancer, but only among the participants who had a previous family history of prostate cancer. The six pesticides were butylate, chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, fonofos, permethrin and phorate. These pesticides were not associated with increased risk among applicators without a family history of prostate cancer. For more information, visit the Agriculture Health Study website. (Source: National Cancer Institute)

Farmer Serving Prison Time for Hiding Seed

In what is believed to be the first criminal prosecution resulting from Monsanto's crackdown on farmers violating their licensing agreements, a Tennessee farmer was sentenced to eight months in prison. The farmer was accused of lying about a truckload of cotton seed and was sentenced for conspiracy to commit fraud. The farmer had to pay Monsanto for 41 tons of genetically engineered cotton and soybean seed he saved in violation of licensing agreement. Copy of article. (Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Warning for Lice Control with Lindane

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a Public Health Advisory concerning the use of topical formulations of lindane lotion and lindane shampoo for the treatment of scabies and lice on people, especially children and adults weighing less than 110 pounds. Currently, lindane is obtained only through a prescription and in small packages to avoid excess application. The FDA recommends lindane only as a second-line treatment for patients that have not responded to other treatments, or cannot tolerate other treatments. Visit the FDA information page. (Source: EPA news)

Residual Chemicals May Not Pose Risk

The American Council on Science and Health has released a report on the health effects of miniscule amounts of chemicals found in humans. The group contends that although the small amounts can be measured with new advances in technology, they do not pose a threat to human health. Instead, the American think tank argues that efforts need to be focused on areas and places in the world where chemical residues truly present a health threat. More information is available on their website (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 26)

Comment Period for Emergency Exemptions

EPA is considering a pilot program for emergency exemption applications (such as Section 18s). The program will be for pesticides identified as reduced-risk pesticides by EPA. Certain exemptions will be allowed to continue into the second and third years, if the chemicals and emergency conditions qualify. More information is available. Comments must be received by June 23. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 27)

Genome Research Project Begins

The initial portion of an Environmental Genome Project has been completed by the National Institute of Environmental Health. The project intends to identify the genetic variations that make people more resistant or susceptible to health affects from chemicals and other environmental agents. Initially researchers have resequenced and catalogued 200 environmentally-responsive genes from 1,000 individuals of various ethnic backgrounds. The researchers hope that scientists will be able to use genomics to determine which segment of the population has a predisposed sensitivity to certain diseases or health affects and which environmental agents trigger those affects. The results of the project are expected in the next five to ten years. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 27)

Pesticide Crop Watch

Insecticides

Imidan 50-WP - Gowan Co. is canceling the registration for this garden and home insecticide

Impasse Termite Blocker (lambda-cyhalothrin) - Syngenta has received EPA registration for this termite control product used pre-construction to prevent plumbing penetration and bath trap areas from becoming termite entry points

Scimitar (lambda-cyhalothrin) - Syngenta has expanded the label to include usage on indoor ornamentals

Fungicides

Decree (fenhexamid) - Sepro has expanded the label to control powdery mildew on ornamentals.

(Source for Pesticide Crop Watch: Agricultural Chemical News, Vol. 284)

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

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

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




	PEP-Talk, June, 2003 Pesticide Education Program Ohio State University Extension Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator Cindy Folck, Communications Vol. 7, Issue 6 In This Issue Mosquito Vector Control Workshops Federal Funding for Pesticide Applicator Training in Jeopardy Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection EPA Considers Appealing to the Supreme Court Pesticide Link Evaluated for Prostate Cancer Risk Farmer Serving Prison Time for Hiding Seed Warning for Lice Control with Lindane Residual Chemicals May Not Pose Risk Comment Period for Emergency Exemptions Genome Research Project Begins Pesticide Crop Watch Upcoming Events Mosquito Vector Control Workshops Just a reminder about the mosquito vector control workshops, coordinated by Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Department of Health. The audience for these workshops are pesticide applicators who will be doing mosquito spraying. Applicators will be able to bring in their mosquito spraying equipment for ULV droplet testing. Educational sessions and ODA license exams are available in only select locations. The dates and locations of the workshops are: June 10 - Toledo Area Sanitary District, 5015 Stickney Ave., Toledo, ULV droplet testing only - NO education session or ODA license exam testing will be available June 11 - Lake County Health Department, 550 Black Brook Rd., Painesville Township, Educational session, ODA license exam and ULV droplet testing ALL available. June 24 - Whitehall Community Park, 402 Hamilton Rd., Whitehall (Columbus area) Educational session, ODA license exam and ULV droplet testing ALL available. June 25 - Whitehall Community Park, 402 Hamilton Rd., Whitehall (Columbus area) ULV droplet testing only - NO education session or ODA license exam testing will be available June 26 - Scarlet Oaks Career Development Center, 3254 E. Kemper Rd., Cincinnati Educational session, ODA license exam and ULV droplet testing ALL available. Registration is $10/person for the educational session or $10/machine for ULV droplet testing. Registration forms and more information is available on the Pesticide Education Program website at http://pested.osu.edu or by calling (614) 292-4070. Federal Funding for Pesticide Applicator Training in Jeopardy During the Western Region Pesticide Meeting in early May, an official from EPA announced the agency is considering eliminating the pass-through funding for Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) Program (now called Pesticide Safety Education Program on the national level). This would affect all PAT offices, such as Ohio State University Extension, that use the funds to support training and recertification programs. U.S. EPA has been instructed to reduce discretionary spending which affects programs such as PAT, Endangered Species and others. The final decision regarding the spending cuts is expected by the beginning of June. The pass-through funds for PAT programming has been stable since the 1970s when the certification and training program for pesticide applicators was started. Stay tuned for more information. Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Training for Wood-Destroying Insect Inspectors will be June 5 at the Ohio Department of Agriculture in Reynoldsburg. This training will fulfill the five hour requirement for people trying to become a licensed inspector. Registration information is available by calling the Pesticide Education Program at (614) 292-4070 or visiting the website at http://pested.osu.edu. The charge is $90 for pre-registration, $100 at the door. Last year Ohio law changed, requiring anyone who does termite and other wood-destroying insect inspections for real estate transactions to be licensed. Inspectors must attend a five-hour training session and take an exam BEFORE becoming licensed. The inspectors must also have a commercial pesticide applicator license for the termite (10b) category. The next wood-destroying insect inspection training will be in early October. EPA Considers Appealing to the Supreme Court EPA is considering asking the U.S. Supreme Court to decide on the interaction of FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act) and the CWA (Clean Water Act) when pesticides are applied above bodies of water. This is in response to the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision that a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit was needed for aerial applications over bodies of water. The federal court ruled these applications constitute a form of pollution after reviewing a case that involved an aerial silviculture-related pesticide application. Other court cases regarding this subject include pesticides applied to irrigation canals and mosquito spraying over bodies of water for West Nile Virus. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, Nos. 28 & 29) Pesticide Link Evaluated for Prostate Cancer Risk The Agricultural Health Study has evaluated possible links between some pesticides and increased risk for prostate cancer among pesticide applicators. The study appears in the May, 2003, issue of the "American Journal of Epidemiology." This study is part of the long-term project designed to evaluate the health experience of farmers, farmer's spouses and pesticide applicators from Iowa and North Carolina. Since the study began in 1993, 566 of the approximately 55,000 participants have developed prostate cancer. The researchers evaluated the role of 45 pesticides and found that only a few of them showed evidence of a possible association with prostate cancer among the pesticide applicators. Methyl bromide, a fumigant, was the only pesticide associated with an increase in prostate cancer. Currently, methyl bromide is being phased out worldwide as part of the Montreal Protocol to reduce ozone depleting substances. Six other pesticides were associated with increased risk of prostate cancer, but only among the participants who had a previous family history of prostate cancer. The six pesticides were butylate, chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, fonofos, permethrin and phorate. These pesticides were not associated with increased risk among applicators without a family history of prostate cancer. For more information, visit the Agriculture Health Study website. (Source: National Cancer Institute) Farmer Serving Prison Time for Hiding Seed In what is believed to be the first criminal prosecution resulting from Monsanto's crackdown on farmers violating their licensing agreements, a Tennessee farmer was sentenced to eight months in prison. The farmer was accused of lying about a truckload of cotton seed and was sentenced for conspiracy to commit fraud. The farmer had to pay Monsanto for 41 tons of genetically engineered cotton and soybean seed he saved in violation of licensing agreement. Copy of article. (Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Warning for Lice Control with Lindane The Food and Drug Administration has issued a Public Health Advisory concerning the use of topical formulations of lindane lotion and lindane shampoo for the treatment of scabies and lice on people, especially children and adults weighing less than 110 pounds. Currently, lindane is obtained only through a prescription and in small packages to avoid excess application. The FDA recommends lindane only as a second-line treatment for patients that have not responded to other treatments, or cannot tolerate other treatments. Visit the FDA information page. (Source: EPA news) Residual Chemicals May Not Pose Risk The American Council on Science and Health has released a report on the health effects of miniscule amounts of chemicals found in humans. The group contends that although the small amounts can be measured with new advances in technology, they do not pose a threat to human health. Instead, the American think tank argues that efforts need to be focused on areas and places in the world where chemical residues truly present a health threat. More information is available on their website (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 26) Comment Period for Emergency Exemptions EPA is considering a pilot program for emergency exemption applications (such as Section 18s). The program will be for pesticides identified as reduced-risk pesticides by EPA. Certain exemptions will be allowed to continue into the second and third years, if the chemicals and emergency conditions qualify. More information is available. Comments must be received by June 23. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 27) Genome Research Project Begins The initial portion of an Environmental Genome Project has been completed by the National Institute of Environmental Health. The project intends to identify the genetic variations that make people more resistant or susceptible to health affects from chemicals and other environmental agents. Initially researchers have resequenced and catalogued 200 environmentally-responsive genes from 1,000 individuals of various ethnic backgrounds. The researchers hope that scientists will be able to use genomics to determine which segment of the population has a predisposed sensitivity to certain diseases or health affects and which environmental agents trigger those affects. The results of the project are expected in the next five to ten years. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 27) Pesticide Crop Watch Insecticides Imidan 50-WP - Gowan Co. is canceling the registration for this garden and home insecticide Impasse Termite Blocker (lambda-cyhalothrin) - Syngenta has received EPA registration for this termite control product used pre-construction to prevent plumbing penetration and bath trap areas from becoming termite entry points Scimitar (lambda-cyhalothrin) - Syngenta has expanded the label to include usage on indoor ornamentals Fungicides Decree (fenhexamid) - Sepro has expanded the label to control powdery mildew on ornamentals. (Source for Pesticide Crop Watch: Agricultural Chemical News, Vol. 284) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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