West Virginia University West Virginia University
Extension Service
October 2001
Dr. John F. Baniecki, Extension Specialist in Plant
Pathology/Entomology,
Pest Management Program
EPA Provides Guidance on Disposal Instructions for Household Use Pesticides
The EPA believes the changes should
enhance the proper disposal of pesticide products. The changes include the addition of the
phrase "call your local solid waste agency" inclusion of a toll-free telephone
number, and removal of the phrase "wrap in paper." Wrapping containers prior to
disposal in the trash does not appear to provide reliable protection to sanitation workers
and may result in accidental or unknown exposure.
The draft for this guidance has been
available since June of 2000. Public response received during the comment period was
voluminous, with much of it expressing strong opposition to any label statements directing
consumers to put pesticides in the trash. Other commentors demanded additional steps to
keep household pesticides out of water supplies.
As of October 2003, OPP will look for
the following disposal statements on pressurized containers:
1.
Do not puncture or incinerate,
2. If
empty: place in trash or offer for recycling if available,
3.
If partially filled: call you local solid waste
agency for disposal instructions.
On non-pressurized containers, statements should say:
Never
place unused product down any indoor or outdoor drain. (EPA OPP Update, 9/19/01 & Pesticide
& Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 29, No. 48).
The EPA Has Issued Revised Guidance For The Disposal Of Household Pesticides
Additionally, some labels may inadvertently increase risks of exposure. Current label
directions frequently instruct households to wrap pesticides in several layers of
newspaper for disposal with the household trash. However, even several layers of paper may
not protect the sanitation worker, particularly if the person does not know if a pesticide
is contained in the package.
For more
information, contact the Pesticide Docket at (703) 305-5805 or electronically on EPA's
home page at http://www.epa.gov/PR_Notices/ or Amy
Breedlove at 703-308-9069 or breedlove.amy@epa.gov
Survey By Responsible Industry For A
Sound Environment, Most Parents Do Not Think About Pests Or Pesticides At Their Children's
Schools
Parents listed air quality,
asbestos, lead, and mold/fungus as environmental qualities of concern at schools. However,
parents become concerned very easily about pests and pesticides when these topics are
raised.
Parents perceive rats and
roaches as the worst pests because they are unsanitary and carry diseases.
Parents assume that
- All
pesticides are sprayed.
- Pesticides
used in school are industrial strength.
- School
janitors are responsible for applying
pesticides.
- Pesticides
are applied to the entire school randomly (not
ˇ Parents know little about IPM (Integrated Pest Management), but
they see it as a logical, common sense approach to controlling pests when IPM is
explained.
ˇ Most parents wanted general understanding of the school pest
management program, but they were not interested in knowing about every application.
(TheGeorgia Pest Management Newsletter, Oct. 2001)
Agricultural Engineers At The Ohio
State University Developed A Biomass-Sensing Device That Calculates The Volume Of A Plant
And Compares The Result To The Plant's Expected ("Normal") Growth At Any Point
During The Growing Period
The resulting information can help growers determine the overall health of a crop and
whether there is need for inputs such as irrigation, pest management, or fertilization.
The sensor alerts growers to a potential problem by comparing measurements of crop growth
against a predetermined normal growth rate. The device is similar to a radar unit in that
it scans, at a 180-degree angle, the cross section of a crop plant, and creates a map that
calculates overall plant volume. Sensors can be mounted on tractors so that growth
information can be collected while performing other operations. M.R. Ehsani, Ehsani.2@osu.edu
(IPM NET news, October 2001)
EPA Has Published A Cancellation Order For Registrations For All Indoor Uses, Certain Agricultural Uses, And Certain Outdoor Non-Agricultural Uses For End-Use Diazinon Products Belonging To Eight Registrants
Retail sale of existing stocks of
products labeled for indoor uses listed in this notice, except mushroom houses, will not
be lawful after December 31, 2002. Retail sale of existing stocks labeled for canceled
agricultural uses or outdoor non-agricultural uses will be allowed until 1 year after
issuance of the final cancellation order. Retail purchasers may continue to use canceled
products in accordance with existing labels. You can find more information at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/diazinon.htm
The suit alleges that Micro Flo has
been selling pesticides with a composition that did not match the registration. The EPA
also alleges that the company falsified documents that accompanied shipments.
Basically, companies may only import
pesticides from sources that have been approved by EPA. This suit contends that Micro Flo
imported chemicals from unapproved foreign companies and hid that information from the
government. (PANUPS, 9-21-01, based on information from U.S. EPA Enforcement and
Compliance Update, September 18, 2001; U.S. EPA Civil Complaint, FIFRA-04-2001-3000,
September 11, 2001; Wright & Sielaty Press Release, September 14, 2001; AGROW, April
13, 2001, August 31, 2001)
Provisions attached to the
extended registrations are intended to strengthen insect resistance management, improve
grower awareness and stewardship, and prevent gene flow from Bt cotton to weedy relatives.
The amended registration requires that some acres be set aside where non-Bt cotton will be
grown to serve as a "refuge." These refuge fields will support populations of
insects not exposed to the Bt toxin. The insect populations in the refuges will help
prevent resistance development when they crossbreed with insects in the Bt fields. Four
distinct refuge designs have been developed and are available for growers to implement to
limit potential development of insect resistance. One, called the "external,
unsprayed refuge option" (also known as the 95:5 refuge) has a 3-year expiration
date. By September 2004, EPA will review data on the value of other crops and weed plants
as providing additional refuge and will consider whether or not to maintain this option.
Other provisions to maximize
protection of the public and environment include an EPA requirement that the company
developing this product, Monsanto, will conduct monitoring of any potential impacts from
its continued use. The registrant must also educate growers about the best methods of
planting Bt cotton to minimize any potential development of insect resistance or gene
transfer to other plants.
The details of the EPA decision will
be posted at www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/
EPA Worker Protection Standard
Checklist
This summary is intended as a
checklist for agricultural employers; it does not contain all details of WPS compliance.
Agricultural employers should be familiar with "The Worker Protection Standard for
Agricultural Pesticides -- How to Comply" developed by the U.S. EPA.
Contact your extension office or the
West Virginia Department of Agriculture for assistance.
Information at central
location. Provide access. Keep legible and current.
WPS Safety Poster
Nearest medical facility (name/phone/location)
Applications (post before applic. until 30 days after re-entry interval [REI] expires)
Product (name/EPA reg. no./active ingredient)
Location/description of treated area
Date/Time/REI for each application
Workers: Basic training before work. Complete training within 5 days.
Early entry Workers: Complete training before work.
Handlers: Complete training before work.
People with license for restricted-use pesticides (RUP) do not need WPS training.
People with pesticide license can perform WPS training.
Workers: Water to wash hands, soap, and single use towels
Decontamination must not be in area being treated or under REI.
Handlers: Water to wash entire body, soap, single use towels, and clean clothes
Also provide decontamination where personal protective equipment (PPE) is removed.
Also provide decontamination in mix/load area.
In areas being treated, supplies must be enclosed.
Provide transport to medical facility.
Supply information to medical personnel.
Product name/EPA reg. no./active ingredients
Description of pesticide use.
Details about exposure.
Commercial applicator to agricultural establishment (before application)
Area to be sprayed.
Date/time of application
Product name/EPA reg. no./active ingredient/REI
Does product require oral warning and posting?
All labeling safety requirements.
Agricultural establishment to operator
All areas that will be treated or where REI is in effect.
Restrictions on areas being treated or where REI is in effect.
No one allowed in area being treated except trained/equipped pesticide handlers.
Nursery workers 100 feet (or more) away from area being treated.
Handlers only in greenhouse during treatment or until air concentration levels on labeling are met (or 2-hr. ventilation with fans).
No workers allowed to enter during REI and contact anything that may have pesticide residues
Some labels require both oral warnings and posting of treated areas.
If label does not specify, you may notify workers orally or by posting.
With oral notification, inform workers of areas that are treated and REI. Tell workers not to enter during REI.
Oral notification must be done before application or before workers begin work.
Post all greenhouse applications.
Posting must be done before application and remain until 3 days after REI expires.
Signs must be visible from all entrances into treated areas.
No hand labor.
No early entry into areas treated with pesticides that require oral and written warning.
Workers must be 'no-contact' or equipped with PPE required by label.
Workers must receive full WPS worker training before early entry task.
No early entry within 4 hours of pesticide application.
Early entry tasks may be performed for 8 hours out of 24-hour period.
Be sure handlers understand all labeling information for the pesticide(s) they are using.
Handlers have access to labeling throughout handling task(s).
Handlers must be trained in use of all equipment used to handle/apply pesticides.
Sight or voice contact every 2 hours
for pesticides with skull/crossbones.
Constant monitoring for handlers in greenhouses doing fumigation tasks. Monitor should
have PPE to enter greenhouse.
Inspect pesticide equipment before
use.
Cleaning, repair, or adjustment of pesticide equipment by trained/equipped handlers only.
Provide PPE required by label.
Maintain/clean PPE. Clean before each day it will be used.
Store away from possible pesticide contamination.
Be sure respirators and other PPE are used properly.
Replace respirator filters/cartridges at appropriate intervals.
Provide pesticide-free area to store personal clothes and for putting on/taking off PPE.
PPE may not be taken home.
Dispose of PPE that is heavily contaminated as hazardous wastes.
Inform people who clean PPE of potential hazards and how to protect themselves.
Avoid heat stress.
To be exempt from any WPS regulations,
consultants must be certified through National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants or
the America Society of Agronomy.
Employers do not need to monitor crop
advisors when they enter fields before REI expires.
Employers do not need to provide
decontamination site or emergency assistance after application ends.
A person is only a crop consultant
when he or she is doing crop consultant tasks. It does not include anyone doing hand labor
like weeding, planting, cultivating or harvesting.
Crop advisors can choose appropriate
PPE for themselves and their employees. They can ignore the WPS PPE instructions on the
label. They must follow all other instructions on the labeling.
-Syngenta's
MedallionŽ fungicide is now available for use in outdoor nurseries and landscape
ornamentals. It is labeled for use on more than 40 plants. (Ornamental Outlook,
October, 2001).
-The EPA has
issued a notice of receipt of request by S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., to cancel the
registration of RaidŽ Max Roach Bait (EPA Registration number 4822-355). The active
ingredient is sulfluramid. Unless the request is withdrawn by March 25, 2002, orders will
be issued to cancel this registration. (Federal Register, 9/26/01).
-BioSafe Systems TerraCyteŽ
(peroxygen) is a granular product labeled to control moss, algae, slime molds and
liverworts in ornamental production. (Ornamental Outlook, October, 2001)
Helping you put knowledge to work
The West Virginia University Cooperative Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and West Virginia counties cooperating. Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.
