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P A N U P S
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Pesticide Action Network
North America
Updates Service
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Dangerous Trend: Unregistered Pesticides Re-approved in
U.S.
February 21, 1995
Government regulators recently re-allowed the use of two
pesticides, mevinphos and 1, 3 - Dichloropropane (1,3,-
D), that had been withdrawn as too hazardous for
continued use on crops. In unrelated federal and state
actions, decisions to again permit use of the two
pesticides were carried out in relative secrecy, without
advance notice or opportunities for public discussion.
Mevinphos (Phosdrin)
In June 1994, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and Amvac Chemical Corporation, the sole U.S.
producer of mevinphos, agreed that all uses of
mevinphos, one of the most acutely toxic pesticides
available on the U.S. market, would be discontinued in
the U.S. on February 28, 1995. Amvac had requested
cancellation of all registrations of the pesticide in
response to EPA and the State of California's planned
actions to remove the pesticide from the U.S. market.
An EPA review of poisoning incidents had shown that a
large number of human poisonings from mevinphos occurred
even when workers followed label restrictions. At the
time, the EPA stated that "Use of mevinphos poses an
imminent hazard to the health of agricultural workers
and others who may be exposed." Rather than face the
stigma of having their product "banned," Amvac moved to
"voluntarily withdraw" its registration.
Since the original agreement, however, Amvac quietly
negotiated a deal with federal officials to permit use
of the highly toxic insecticide for another growing
season. As a result of this deal, the deadline for
sale, distribution and use of existing stocks of
mevinphos has been extended to November 30, 1995. Amvac
requested the extension because of the high estimated
cost of the recall at the earlier use date
(approximately $4 million) due to the large volume of
remaining stocks. Additional restrictions on use in
California (particularly the prohibition of use of
mevinphos in tank mixes with other cholinesterase-
inhibiting pesticides and a longer preharvest interval)
were blamed for the large quantity of unused mevinphos.
These restrictions were put in place in July 1994 by
California's Department of Pesticide Regulation to help
protect workers for what was expected to be the last
months of mevinphos use.
In a statement released by Amvac, the company states
that extending mevinphos use "reduces the threat to
workers and the environment of increased exposure to
other chemicals. Use of alternative pesticides to
replace mevinphos in California alone has increased at
least three to four fold, and there is a risk of
increased worker cholinesterase depression." Amvac's
first recall plan listed several options under
consideration by the company for disposal of unused
stocks, including obtaining foreign registrations of the
recalled formulated product for resale in the export
market.
1,3,-D (Telone)
In 1990, the California Department of Pesticide
Regulation (DPR) suspended permits for Telone II, a soil
fumigant containing the active ingredient 1,3-D, after
the state Air Resources Board collected air samples that
showed heavy concentrations of the pesticide. Air
samples from five sites in Merced Country, including
samples taken at two schools, had levels of Telone that
over a lifetime of exposure could significantly increase
the risk of cancer. 1,3-D is on the list of chemicals
known by the State of California to cause cancer (the
California "Proposition 65" list).
Four years and more than US$5 million in research and
field trials later, DowElanco, the manufacturer of
Telone, claimed to have developed application techniques
that will reduce residues in air and pushed DPR to
reinstate use of the chemical. The DPR has obliged, and
in January approved resumption of use with some
restrictions, including limiting use to 13 counties on
no more that 21, 250 acres; smaller application rates
injected deeper into the soil; and a buffer zone of 300
feet between the application site and any occupied
structures. DowElanco insists that the restrictions will
greatly reduce any health risks to farmworkers and the
general public. When questioned by the press, DPR
Director James Wells stated "Everything has some risk.
We mitigate to allow acceptable use." In contrast to
most state actions regarding changes in the status of
pesticide regulations, the decision to re-allow use of
Telone was made without formal public notice or
discussion.
Contact: PANNA or Ralph Lightstone, California Rural
Legal Assistance, 2000 O Street #240, Sacramento, CA
95814; phone (916) 446-1416; fax (916) 446-3057.
Sources: California DPR News Release, December 7, 1994
and June 30, 1994; PANUPS, August 3, 1994; EPA Press
Release, June 30, 1994; Pesticide and Toxic Chemical
News, January 18, 1995; Los Angeles Times, January 16,
1995.
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