EPA Press Release -- Endosulfan
From: Teung.F.Chin
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 9:53 AM
Subject: Fw: EPA News Release (HQ): EPA Moves to Terminate
All Uses of Insecticide Endosulfan To Protect Health of Farmworkers and
Wildlife
CONTACT:
Dale Kemery
kemery.dale@epa.gov
202-564-7839
202-564-4355
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2010
EPA Moves to Terminate All Uses of Insecticide Endosulfan to Protect Health
of Farmworkers and Wildlife
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
taking action to end all uses of the insecticide endosulfan in the United
States. Endosulfan, which is used on vegetables, fruits, and cotton, can
pose unacceptable neurological and reproductive risks to farmworkers and
wildlife and can persist in the environment.
New data generated in response to the agency s 2002 decision have shown
that risks faced by workers are greater than previously known. EPA
also finds that there are risks above the agency's level of concern
to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, as well as to birds and mammals
that consume aquatic prey which have ingested endosulfan. Farmworkers
can be exposed to endosulfan through inhalation and contact with the
skin. Endosulfan is used on a very small percentage of the U.S. food
supply and does not present a risk to human health from dietary exposure.
Makhteshim Agan of North America, the manufacturer of endosulfan, is
in discussions with EPA to voluntarily terminate all endosulfan uses.
EPA is currently working out the details of the decision that will
eliminate all endosulfan uses, while incorporating consideration of
the needs for growers to timely move to lower-risk pest control practices.
Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA),
EPA must consider endosulfan's risks and benefits. While EPA implemented
various restrictions in a 2002 re-registration decision, EPA's phaseout
is based on new data and scientific peer review, which have improved
EPA's assessment of the ecological and worker risks from endosulfan.
EPA's 2010 revised ecological risk assessment reflects a comprehensive
review of all available exposure and ecological effects information
for endosulfan, including independent external peer-reviewed recommendations
made by the endosulfan Scientific Advisory Panel.
Endosulfan, an organochlorine insecticide first registered in the 1950s,
also is used on ornamental shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plants. It
has no residential uses.
For more information: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/endosulfan/endosulfan-cancl-fs.html
