Summary

In response to congressional requests, GAO reported on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) efforts to determine the: (1) risks associated with the use of nonagricultural pesticides; (2) extent of public information concerning such risks; and (3) requirements for professional pesticide applicators to protect the public from misuse.

The chronic health risks associated with nonagricultural pesticides are uncertain because EPA has not reassessed them in accordance with current standards. GAO found that EPA: (1) as of September 30, 1985, had done preliminary assessments on 18 of the 50 chemicals and found that, for 17, it did not have enough chronic toxicity data to complete the assessments; and (2) does not plan to require chronic toxicity testing of all nonagricultural chemicals because it believes that exposure to some pesticides is not significant enough to cause chronic effects in humans, regardless of toxicity. Environmental groups believe that pesticide labels should state that chronic health risks have not been fully assessed, so that the public can make better choices about pesticide use. However, industry representatives oppose public disclosure because they fear adverse economic effects. The Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act authorizes EPA to take enforcement action against pesticide manufacturers' claims that pesticides are safe, but EPA has taken few such actions. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), under its authorizing legislation, can act against distributor and applicator claims, but FTC believes that EPA is better able to handle such claims, because of its expertise and specific legislative authority.