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EPA Pesticide Program Updates: November 7, 2001Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, November 7, 2001 IN THIS UPDATE:
EPA's Pesticides in Water Exposure Models Are on the WebThe Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) has designed a web site which describes the various exposure models it uses to estimate the concentration of pesticides in water. These models are based on laboratory studies that describe how fast a pesticide breaks down to other chemicals and how it moves in the environment. These exposure models are now on EPA's Web site.EPA relies on these mathematical models as well as monitoring data to generate pesticide exposure estimates for its drinking water, aquatic exposure, and water quality assessments. These models calculate estimated environmental concentrations (EECs) using laboratory data that describe how fast the pesticide breaks down to other chemicals and how it moves in the environment. For drinking water assessments, the Agency uses FIRST (FQPA Index Reservoir Screening Tool) as a Tier 1 screening model to estimate pesticide concentrations in surface water. EPA uses SCIGROW (Screening Concentration in Ground Water) as a Tier 1 screening model to estimate pesticide concentrations in ground water. For aquatic exposure assessments, OPP uses GENEEC2 (Generic Estimated Environmental Concentration) to estimate pesticide concentrations in surface water and SCIGROW to estimate pesticide concentration in ground water. For Tier 2 (more refined) surface water screening assessments, OPP uses the linked Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM) and the Exposure Analysis Modeling System (EXAMS) models which better accommodate the specific characteristics of the chemical and which include more site-specific information regarding the application method and impact of daily weather on the treated field over a period of 36 years. For more information regarding this Web site and these water exposure models, please contact Karen McCormack, Environmental Fate and Effects Division, by phone at 703-308-1835 or by e-mail at McCormack.Karen@epa.gov. Voluntary Cancellation of Oxadixyl AnnouncedEPA signed a cancellation order for the fungicide oxadixyl in response to a request from the registrants to cancel all products containing this pesticide. Oxadixyl is a systemic fungicide used to treat seeds of a variety of food crops, as well as vetch, golf course turf, and residential lawns.Both registrants cite declining sales, and state that they have not produced this pesticide for several years. EPA received no comments on this product and use cancellation request. The cancellation is effective on September 27, 2001. EPA published the final cancellation order in the Federal Register on November 1, 2001. EPA plans to propose revocation of tolerances for oxadixyl. Existing stocks of these products may be sold until September 27, 2002 and used by persons other than the registrants until exhausted. This notice is available on EPA's web site. EPA Releases Toxicology Studies on Organophosphate PesticidesThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is placing in the public docket the toxicology studies that will be considered in assessing the hazard posed by cumulative effects of organophosphate pesticides.This cumulative assessment is being conducted as required by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). EPA has reached an agreement to settle a lawsuit brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) regarding implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). This consent decree requires that EPA place toxicology studies that form the basis of the hazard portion of the cumulative assessment of the OPs in the public docket. Copies of the studies may be viewed in the docket and are available on request in microfiche or CD-ROM format. The docket is called "Toxicity Studies Considered in the Organophosphate Cumulative Risk Assessment." The pesticide docket is located in Room 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 703-305-5805. FIFRA Section 10(g) requires EPA to avoid knowingly disclosing registrant-submitted pesticide studies or data to a Multinational pesticide producer, or to agents or employees of a Multinational. Therefore, in order to receive the OP toxicology studies that are included in the Public Docket, the requester must be able to sign an Affirmation of Non-Multinational Status form. 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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