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EPA Pesticide Program Updates: May 15, 2002Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, May 15, 2002
IN THIS UPDATE:
Atrazine Risk Assessments Are Released; Comments Requested on Risk MitigationsThrough a Federal Register notice published on May 6, 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of the revised human health and environmental fate and effects risk assessments for the triazine herbicide atrazine. This notice also opened a 60-day comment period, closing July 5, 2002, which provides an opportunity for the public to submit risk mitigation ideas and proposals. EPA plans to complete an Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for atrazine in early August. One of the most widely used agricultural pesticides in the U.S., atrazine is registered to control weeds in field and sweet corn, sorghum, sugarcane, and other agricultural crops, as well as on residential lawns and turf. Although it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans, atrazine has been associated with causing imbalances in hormone levels, possibly disrupting reproductive and developmental processes. The Agency has concerns regarding some exposures to atrazine, including possible risks from consuming drinking water from certain community water systems and some rural wells in atrazine use areas and possible risks from contact with recently treated lawns. The atrazine risk assessments and related documents are available from the pesticide docket or from EPA's Web site. The Federal Register notice also is available on the Web. For general questions on pesticides and pesticide poisoning prevention, contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), toll-free, at: 1-800-858-7378, by e-mail at npic@ace.orst.edu or by visiting their Web site.
Note: For general questions on pesticides and pesticide poisoning prevention, contact the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN), toll-free, at: 1-800-858-7378, by e-mail at nptn@ace.orst.edu, or by visiting their Web site. For information about ongoing activities in the Office of Pesticide Programs, visit OPPs home page. Or call or write OPP directly at: Communication Services Branch |
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 Western Integrated Pest Management Center Pest Management Centers are sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service |
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