October 1998 Volume 21, no. 7
The peregrine falcon is expected to be removed from the endangered species list, but the 1972 ban of DDT is probably not the reason.
FEDERAL NEWS
The EPA is changing their priorities for registering new pesticides to facilitate the introduction of alternatives for the organophosphates.
The EPA has released additional guidance concerning what kinds of adverse pesticide effects must be reported to the Agency.
By October 1, 1999, all total release pesticide foggers with a flammability hazard will have to comply with some additional labeling regulations.
The EPA is seeking comments on their NONPOINT SOURCE CONSISTENCY GUIDANCE PUBLIC COMMENT - November 24th deadline.
HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Allergens from roaches can cause serious health problems for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
An apparent 35% increase in malignant brain tumors among children is explained by better cancer-detection equipment, not exposure to pesticides or
other chemicals.
The Endocrine Disruption Screening and Testing Advisory Committee (EDSTAC) has delivered its final report of 70+ recommendations to EPA.
In the meantime, the Europeans want to phase out and ban all endocrine disruptors in the European Union.
Although many pesticides are used on golf courses, very little is leaching into groundwater.
The USDA has issued its 1997 report on alternative pest management.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
The Alliance for Bio-Integrity, the International Center for Technology Assessment, 22 individuals, and one synagogue are suing the FDA to require
safety testing and labeling of genetically engineered foods.
FQPA
Top federal officials declare the meetings of the Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee a success, but others do not agree.
Additionally, the FQPA consumer brochure is in the final stages.
The Consumers Union is calling for EPA to eliminate 40 pesticide/crop combinations in the next two years.
In what could be FQPA fallout (bailout), both Lynn Goldman (assistant administrator of the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances) and
Fred Hansen (EPA deputy administrator) on the way out.
NEW TOOLS
The EPA has registered a brand-new active ingredient for control of powdery mildew on apples, cherries, cucumbers, grapes, mangoes, melons,
nectarines, peaches, peppers, plums, summer/winter squash, tomatoes, watermelons, and roses.
The EPA has established an exemption from tolerance for acrylic acid terpolymer, partial sodium salts when used as inert ingredients
Here are some books or reports that may interest you.
The peregrine falcon is expected to be removed from the endangered species list, but the 1972 ban of DDT is probably not the reason.
DDT had some problems (very long persistence), but it was never proven to be a threat to birds. In 1966, U.S. Fish and Wildlife fed DDT to eagles for nearly four months with no apparent ill effects to birds or eggs. Poultry fed DDT produced normal eggs.
Please do not misunderstand. We are doing things better, and highly persistent pesticides should be used very carefully. In addition to the DDT ban, Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972. There have been tremendous reductions in PCBs, mercury, and other industrial effluents in the water. Both PCBs and mercury are known to have serious impacts on egg hatchability.
There is more to the story. What pesticide has probably saved more human lives than all other pesticides combined? (Hint: the first two letters are DD) Mosquitoes transmit malaria, and it is one of the most serious diseases in the world (more than 300 million cases and up to 3 million deaths each year). DDT has been very effective against mosquitoes. DDT is not the silver bullet for malaria eradication, but it can play an important role in some programs.
From the Atlantic Monthly, Aug. 1997, "Rachel Carson's legacy is not entirely positive," says Robert Gwadz, a malaria researcher at the NIH. "DDT is one of the more benign pesticides known." It is certainly among the cheapest. But it is banned or heavily restricted in most African nations, as in the United States, and the alternatives, pyrethroid insecticides, are expensive.
There are two morals for today's story.
Moral #1: Ecological problems are not simple. DDT alone did not cause the decline of the peregrine falcon, but it was an easy target. Peregrine falcons and other species usually decline because we degrade their habitat in a variety of ways. DDT and PCBs and mercury and motorboats and development all played a role in the peregrine falcon's decline. Unfortunately, it is much easier to rally the public against a pesticide than it is to implement the broader, long-term changes needed to protect the environment.
Moral #2: There are two sides to every story. DDT and many pesticides do carry risks, but they can also provide tremendous benefits. Which of us would let a child die of malaria because a pesticide may cause eggshell thinning? There are groups today that want to incite the public against organophosphate insecticides and eliminate them. They do not seem to say much about the benefits of these pesticides (e.g., more food, greater variety, cheaper prices).
Children die every day in auto accidents, but no one wants to eliminate cars. We do want the equipment to be safer, but the primary cause of automobile accidents is the operator. As a result, we implement speed limits, seat belt laws, etc.
Likewise, we want safer pesticides, but the operator is the key to pesticide safety. We must improve applicator education. We should implement additional safety regulations if they are needed to protect human health and the environment. Applicators who cannot or will not use pesticides safely should not be allowed to use them. We should consider long and carefully, however, before we eliminate a useful tool (e.g., pesticide, chain saw, lawn mower, automobile, etc.) simply because some operators use them unsafely.
Sources include news stories on peregrine falcon, the Atlantic Monthly, and Saving the Planet with Pesticides and Plastic by D. Avery.
Now that we have adequate funding (thanks Georgia Legislators), Georgia Clean Day is really moving. There are six collection dates established.
| Dates | Counties |
| October 7 | Grady, Mitchell, Thomas |
| December 10 | Atkinson, Ben Hill, Coffee, Irwin, Telfair |
| January 13, 1999 | Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Pulaski, Wilcox |
| January 27 | Macon, Taylor, Upson |
| February 23 | Decatur, Miller, Seminole |
| February 24 | Clay, Early, Quitman |
If you live in these counties, be alert for information about how and where to participate.
If your county is not listed, store your pesticides securely. We will come to your area. Georgia Clean Day is a very good use of taxpayer funds, and we expect continued funding.
The EPA is changing their priorities for registering new pesticides to facilitate the introduction of alternatives for the organophosphates.
Here is the new order of priorities. If the pesticide that you want to register does not fit on this list, you may have a very long wait.
The EPA has released additional guidance concerning what kinds of adverse pesticide effects must be reported to the Agency.
Under 6(a)(2), the Agency requires pesticide registrants to report any unreasonable adverse effects associated with their pesticide products (believe it or not, companies do report these things). The new guidance provides detailed instructions about what, when, and how adverse effects should be reported. If you are a pesticide registrant, you need this information. Various trade associations (American Crop Prot. Assoc., Chem. Manuf. Assoc., Chem. Prod. & Distr., Internat. Sanitary Supply Co., Chem. Spec. Manuf. Assoc.) can provide forms and more information.
EPA PR-Notice 98-4
By October 1, 1999, all total release pesticide foggers with a flammability hazard will have to comply with some additional labeling regulations.
Call 703-308-9071 if you need more information.
The EPA is seeking comments on their NONPOINT SOURCE CONSISTENCY GUIDANCE PUBLIC COMMENT - November 24th deadline.
Don't complain about what happens if you do not even bother to read it. You would be surprised at how few comments the EPA receives and at the difference your comments could make.
The proposed Federal consistency guidance describes (a) the States' role in identifying Federal programs for consistency review, (b) the Federal obligation to accommodate the concerns of the States in accordance with Executive Order 12372, (c) the criteria and methods for reviewing Federal assistance programs and development projects for consistency with a State's nonpoint source management program, and (d) EPA's role in assisting States and Federal agencies with resolution of any conflicts which may arise. For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/
Allergens from roaches can cause serious health problems for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Roach feces, eggs, saliva, and body parts all contain the allergens. Recently, scientists have also discovered that the allergens can persist for five years or more.
A new non-pesticide technique has been developed to remove roaches and their allergens. Terminix International and USDA have teamed up to invent a machine that chases roaches out of hiding with hot air and vacuums up the roaches and their allergens. (ARS/USDA, 6-98 via DC Pesticide Coordinator Report)
An apparent 35% increase in malignant brain tumors among children is explained by better cancer-detection equipment, not exposure to pesticides or other chemicals.
The increase was noted from 1973-1994. Much of the increase is probably due to the widespread availability in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging beginning in 1985. (J. of Nat. Cancer Institute, 9-2-98, via Pestic. and Tox. Chem. News, 9-3-98)
The Endocrine Disruption Screening and Testing Advisory Committee (EDSTAC) has delivered its final report of 70+ recommendations to EPA.
In a nutshell, there are more than 86,000 chemicals (some are pesticides) that may be having unwanted effects on the endocrine systems of humans and other animals. We don't need to go into all of the possible impacts, but suffice it to say that it could become difficult to tell which was the opposite sex.
The problem is that we do not know which chemicals will cause problems. EDSTAC was trying to develop a reasonable screen. Here are the highlights of their report.
(Pestic. & Tox. Chem. News, 9-3-98)
In the meantime, the Europeans want to phase out and ban all endocrine disruptors in the European Union.
They want to make a list of substances that have endocrine effects and get rid of all of them.
Their task is easier said than done, and it is somewhat foolish to announce a ban before you even know what the compounds are. The report of the European Parliament does not carry the weight of law, but it has quite a bit of support. (Pestic. & Tox. Chem. News, 9-3-98)
Although many pesticides are used on golf courses, very little is leaching into groundwater.
According to Purdue researchers, 90% of fungicide is captured on the grass blades, and the remaining 10% is tied up in the thatch layer. The University of Florida reports that less than 0.1% of organophosphate pesticides were found in leachates. Additionally, they reported that soil amendments can be used to capture some leachable pesticides with no effect on the turf. The big difference between a golf course and most row-crop agriculture is that the pesticides are applied to turf rather than soil. (Pestic. & Tox. Chem. News, 9-3-98)
The USDA has issued its 1997 report on alternative pest management.
The USDA asked growers across the U.S. about nonpesticidal management tools. There were four major categories of enquiry.
Prevention (e.g., clean seed, host plant resistance)
Avoidance (e.g., crop rotation, trap crops)
Monitoring (e.g., scouting, soil tests)
Suppression (e.g., cultural controls, biological controls)
The most common technique varied by crop. Scouting and crop rotation were the most common. From 75% to 80% of cotton, fruits/nuts, and vegetable acreage is scouted. From 53-68% of barley, soybeans, alfalfa hay, and wheat acreage is rotated to help manage pests.
If you want a copy of the report (1997 Pest Management Practices), call 1-800-999-6779.
(Pestic. & Tox. Chem. News, 9-3-98)
The Alliance for Bio-Integrity, the International Center for Technology Assessment, 22 individuals, and one synagogue are suing the FDA to require safety testing and labeling of genetically engineered foods.
The suit contends FDA is not fulfilling its mandate of protecting public health and providing consumers with proper information about food. The suit further raises concerns about food allergies. Finally, some of the individuals claim that current FDA policy is an infringement upon religious freedom. '[The policy] is in violation of basic principles of environmental ethics and is disruptive of the divine plan.'
The FDA counters that traditional plant breeding can also produce the same types of changes that occur in genetically engineered foods. The FDA would require food additive approval if the resultant protein (from genetic engineering) would be substantially different from the proteins we consume now. The government also denied that genetically engineered foods contain important levels of new allergens.
Keep an eye on this one folks. The advances in genetic engineering are happening more quickly than we can evaluate them and their impacts on society. Twenty years ago, cloning and genetic engineering were science fiction; test tube babies were the controversial cutting edge. Twenty years from now, you may be tired of saying, 'your son looks just like you.' As you can see, some of the concerns go beyond simply eating. This case could set many precedents that will determine the future course of genetic engineering. Also remember that some very big players stand to lose large amounts of money if there are substantial new restrictions on genetically engineered products.
Top federal officials declare the meetings of the Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee a success, but others do not agree.
The EPA and USDA want to have additional meetings, but the public action groups feel that additional meetings will only serve to delay implementation of FQPA.
From the TRAC meeting I attended, the disparity in viewpoints among the panelists will preclude the resolution of some key issues even if they meet until doomsday. However, if another body makes decisions, some of the original TRAC players will file lawsuits if the conclusions do not suit them. Unfortunately, if the issues are resolved in court, they may hinge on legal issues rather than science.
(Pestic. & Tox. Chem. News, 9-17-98)
Additionally, the FQPA consumer brochure is in the final stages.
This item is the only thing about FQPA upon which everyone can agree. It stinks. The brochure is supposed to educate consumers about the risks and benefits of pesticides on foods. As you can imagine, the pesticide industry and public action groups are a universe apart on the contents. The EPA will be forced to produce a brochure that does not really say anything. This result is OK, however, because consumers are not going to read it, and groceries are not going to distribute them anyway. In a rare oversight, Congress mandated EPA to produce such a brochure, but supermarkets do not have to distribute them. Do you think that any major grocer will post a brochure that makes the consumer think that the food may not be safe?
The Consumers Union is calling for EPA to eliminate 40 pesticide/crop combinations in the next two years.
According to the Union, eliminating these 40 combinations will decrease risks 95%. They also postulate that growers have plenty of viable alternatives because less than half of fruit and vegetable acreage is not treated with organophosphates. Finally, they insist that U.S. growers would not suffer and could even benefit in some cases.
I do not agree with all of the CU's points. Some of their underlying assumptions seem flawed. Just because all of the vegetable acreage is not treated with an organophosphate does not mean they are unnecessary. Some parts of the country may not need a particular chemical because they do not have that key pest. Georgia no longer sprays for boll weevil, but we do not advocate canceling boll weevil pesticides because other states still need them. Simply because our food supply will not be disrupted will not prevent farmers from going bankrupt. Growers can rarely pass along increased pest management costs even if consumers would pay for it. The grocery supplier will simply buy a cheaper product from other growers or other countries.
However, I do think that CU has the right idea. Let us determine what uses really do contribute significant risks and concentrate our resources in those areas. However, I would like for those risk assessments to be completed by the scientists in EPA and USDA.
If you want to read the Consumers Union report, hit the Web (look at the bottom of the page).
http://www.consunion.org/pdf/pdf-tips.htm#worst
In what could be FQPA fallout (bailout), both Lynn Goldman (assistant administrator of the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances) and Fred Hansen (EPA deputy administrator) are on the way out.
Replacements are on the way, but I do not know who they will be.
The EPA has registered a brand-new active ingredient for control of powdery mildew on apples, cherries, cucumbers, grapes, mangoes, melons, nectarines, peaches, peppers, plums, summer/winter squash, tomatoes, watermelons, and roses.
The active ingredient is "Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate"'; it will be sold as eKsPunge. It has to be registered in individual states as well.
The EPA has established an exemption from tolerance for acrylic acid terpolymer, partial sodium salts when used as inert ingredients (dispersant) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops, raw agricultural commodities after harvest, and animals. (FR, 9-9-98)
Here are some books or reports that may interest you.
PANUPS September 17, 1998
Integrated Weed and Soil Management. 1998. J.L. Hatfield et al. (eds.) Emphasizes integration of techniques to anticipate and manage weed problems rather than reacting to them after they are present. To order, contact Ann Arbor Press, 121 South Main St., Chelsea, Michigan 48118.
Fields of Change: A New Crop of American Farmers Finds Alternatives to Pesticides looks at 22 farmers from 16 states who produce a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, cotton and dairy products. As recently as 15 years ago, all of these farmers relied extensively on pesticides to manage insects, weeds and diseases. In many cases, pesticides were applied prophylactically or on a calendar basis without regard to the level of pest pressure or presence of natural controls. In response to economic, environmental, health and/or ethical concerns, each of the farmers profiled decided to experiment with alternative practices.
If you want to know how they changed, get the report from NRDC. It may have ideas for you. NRDC, Publications Dept., 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011 for US $14.00 plus US $3.00 shipping. (202) 289-1060; fax (202) 289-1060; http://www.nrdc.org
Tobacco, Farmers and Pesticides: The Other Story by Ellen Hickey and Yenyen Chan of PAN North America, is available on-line at the PANNA website; http://www.panna.org/panna
I have no idea what this report is about.
The Future of Food: Long-term Prospects for the Agro-food Sector. 1998. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Examines trends in the food sector, makes projections for the world food supply in the 21st century and identifies variables and risks in future supply and demand. OECD Washington Center, 2001 L St. N.W., Suite 650, Washington D.C. 20036-4922; tel. (202) 785-6323; fax (202) 785-0350; email washcont@oecd.org
Federal Register, September 9, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 174)
The following pesticide registrations will be canceled unless the request is withdrawn by March 8, 1999. Existing stocks may be sold for one year, and end-users may use all existing stocks according to the label.
| Apollo Wasp and Hornet Killer | Foil Bfc Oil Flowable Bioinsecticide | Rigo Garden Dust Special |
| Black Leaf Thuricide | Genep EPTC 7EC | Science Thuricide, A Natural, Microbial Insect |
| BRC605 6.7E Selective Herbicide | Hot Shot Flea & Tick Killer | Selig's Sniper Residual Spray |
| Bt-25 Biological Insecticide | Kill-Ko Rabon 50% Wettable Powder | Short-Stop 10-G |
| Compound PA-14 Avian Stressing Agent | Kill-Ko Rabon Livestock Dust | SMCP Dursban* 15 Granular Insecticide |
| Eptam 10-G Selective Herbicide | Morestan 25% Wettable Powder Miticide, Fungicide, Insecticide | Sunniland Ethion & Oil Spray |
| Eptam 5-G Selective Herbicide | Pratt House Plant Spray Bomb | System 22 Insecticide with Cypermethrin |
| Eptam 6E Emulsifiable Liquid | Pratt Rose & Floral Bomb | Unicorn Horse Spray-N-Wipe |
| Eptam Plus 6-E | Pratt Thuricide (R)-HPC | Unicorn Jel Insecticide Repellent |
| Eradacane 7.5-IG Herbicide | Rigo 110 Dust Contains Dipel | Unicorn Stirofos Flea & Tick Powder |
| Eradicane 25G | Rigo Dipel Bait | Unicorn Stirofos Sponge-On for Pets |
| Eradicane 6-E Emulsifiable Liquid | Rigo Dipel Garden Insect Spray | X-Cel Citrus Spray |
| Eradicane Extra Selective Herbicide |
One active ingredient will no longer be available: Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain EG2424.
Dear Readers:
The Georgia Pest Management Newsletter is a monthly journal for extension agents, extension specialists, and others interested in pest management news. It provides information on legislation, regulations, and other issues affecting pest management in Georgia.
Do not regard the information in this newsletter as pest management recommendations. Consult the Georgia Pest Control Handbook, other extension publications, or appropriate specialists for this information.
Your input in this newsletter is encouraged.
If you wish to be added to the mailing list, just call us at 706-542-1765
Or write us:
Department of Entomology
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
E-mail: pguillebeau@bugs.ent.uga.edu
Or visit us on the Web. You will find all the back issues there and other useful information.
http://www.ces.uga.edu/ces/wnews.html
Sincerely:
Paul Guillebeau, Assistant Professor & Extension Entomologist