January 3, 1997
California Bans Pesticides
After requesting that studies be submitted on the toxicity of
200 chemicals commonly used in pesticides, officials at the
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) have
decided that not enough is known about three of these
chemicals to allow their continued use in the state. On
October 1, 1996, the department suspended 21 pesticide
products that contain the fungicide chloreneb, the wood
preservative creosote, and aromatic petroleum distillates,
which are commonly used in insecticides.
The DPR said it is suspending products that contain these
compounds because manufacturers failed to comply with a March
30, 1996, deadline for submitting toxicity studies showing
that the compounds are safe. The suspension prohibits
registrants from making or selling the products, but retail
dealers will have two years to sell their remaining stocks.
In addition, the suspension will be lifted and the
registration reinstated if manufacturers submit all required
studies after the suspension takes effect or if the
manufacturer can show that use of the chemical results in
insignificant human exposure.
According to Jacqueline Fernette, coordinator of corporate
communication for Reilly Industries, Inc., one of the
companies that sold creosote products in California, her
company simply decided that completing the requested toxicity
studies was not cost efficient. "[The suspension] certainly
effects Reilly, but in a small way," Fernette said. "We
tried, along with other suppliers, to get [California] to
accept testing we were currently doing for the [U.S.] EPA,
but apparently they didn't feel it was sufficient." Fernette
said that creosote is not a particularly hazardous chemical,
but that "it is a chemical that must be dealt with
appropriately."
The process of collecting data on the 200 chemicals came
about as a result of the 1985 Birth Defects Prevention Act
(SB 950), which mandated that the state collect data on all
pesticide active ingredients so that potential chronic health
effects could be evaluated. For each pesticide ingredient, 10
studies are usually required, including animal studies on
chronic toxicity, oncogenicity, teratogenicity, reproductive
toxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity and mutagenicity. A
1991 amendment to the law required that companies using any
of the 200 chemicals in their products supply the department
with any missing studies or face suspension of their
registrations. "It is similar to the data collection going on
at the federal level, but on a more expedited schedule," said
James W. Wells, director of the DPR, in a press release. "No
state has ever attempted to master the logistics of such an
undertaking or the science required to support it."
Though almost all data have been submitted, "The real work of
SB 950 begins now," according to Veda Federighi,
communications director for the DPR. Federighi stated that
scientists at the DPR must now review all submitted studies
and make sure that the data are adequate according to EPA
guidelines. Next, the data will be scanned for any
significant adverse effects brought to light by the studies.
Based on our findings," Federighi said, "we will . . .
prioritize the chemicals for risk assessment. If we get
something that's a real red flag, we will act on it
immediately." After it is finished dealing with all 200
"priority chemicals," the department must then face the
larger task of going through the same process for all other
pesticide active ingredients.
Chloroneb, creosote and aromatic petroleum distillates are
not the only three pesticide ingredients out of the original
200 that will no longer be registered with the DPR for use in
California. As a result of the SB 950 legislation,
registrations were not renewed or were withdrawn by the
manufacturers of products containing 44 other active
ingredients. Some of these registrants withdrew their
products rather than pay for costly toxicological testing,
although, according to DPR, other factors were often
involved. Products containing seven other active ingredients
had their registrations revoked for failure to comply with
earlier data submission requirements.
All data requirements have been met for 144 compounds,
including diphacinone and formaldehyde, which were in danger
of suspension earlier this year. Because of 1996 legislation,
studies on two chemicals, methyl bromide and
pentachlorophenol are not due until December 1997 (see PANUPS
January 3 and March 11, 1996).
Sources: Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 104:
Number 11, November 1996; Veda Federighi, California
Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), personal
communication, January 2, 1997.
Contact: DPR, 1020 N Street, Room 100, Sacramento, CA 95814;
phone (916) 445-3974; fax (916) 324-1467;
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/index.htm.
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