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Methyl Bromide Alternatives
Both chemical and non-chemical alternatives to methyl bromide exist, and several pest control tools can manage the pests currently controlled with methyl bromide. Research on alternatives continues and EPA continues to prioritize the registration of alternatives to methyl bromide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service has also conducted research on alternatives to methyl bromide.
Some primary alternatives for the following sectors are as follows:
| Use Category | Alternatives Available | Alternatives Under Development |
|---|---|---|
| Commodities | Propylene Oxide | Ethyl Formate |
| Phosphine | Ethylene Oxide | |
| Sulfuryl Floruide | Methyl Formate | |
| Cucurbits | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Dimenthyl Disulfide |
| Chloropicrin | Furfural | |
| Glyphosate | Iodomethane | |
| Halosulfuron | Propargyl Bromide | |
| Metam Sodium | Sodium Azide | |
| Paraquat | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | ||
| Eggplant | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| Chloropicrin | Furfural | |
| Halosulfuron | Iodomethane | |
| Metam Sodium | Propargyl Bromide | |
| Napropamide | Sodium Azide | |
| Trifluralin | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Napropamide + Trifluralin | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | ||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | ||
| Food Facilities | Phosphine | Ethyl Formate |
| Sulfuryl Fluoride | Ethylene Oxide | |
| Methyl Formate | ||
| Forest Seedlings | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| Chloropicrin | Propargyl Bromide | |
| Dazomet | Sodium Azide | |
| Iodomethane** | ||
| Metam Sodium | ||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | ||
| Ham | Sulfuryl Fluoride* | |
| Nurseries: Raspberries | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| Chloropicrin | Sodium Azide | |
| Iodomethane** | Propargyl Bromide | |
| Dazomet | ||
| Metam Sodium | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | ||
| Nurseries: Roses | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| Chloropicrin | Sodium Azide | |
| Dazomet | Propargyl Bromide | |
| Iodomethane** | ||
| Metam Sodium | ||
| Sodium Tetrathiocarbonate | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin + Metam Sodium | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | ||
| Orchard Replant | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| Chloropicrin | Sodium Azide | |
| Dazomet | Propargyl Bromide | |
| Iodomethane** | ||
| Metam Sodium | ||
| Sodium Tetrathiocarbonate | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin + Metam Sodium | ||
| Onamentals | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| Dazomet | Furfural | |
| Chloropicrin | Sodium Azide | |
| Iodomethane** | Potassium Tri-iodide | |
| Metam Sodium | Propargyl Bromide | |
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | ||
| Dazomet + Chloropicrin | ||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | ||
| Peppers | Metam Sodium | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| 1,3-Dichloropropene | Furfural | |
| Chloropicrin | Sodium Azide | |
| Iodomethane** | Propargyl Bromide | |
| Halosulfuron | ||
| Glyphosate | ||
| Paraquat | ||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | ||
| Post-Harvest Uses | Phosphine | Ethyl Formate |
| Sulfuryl Fluoride* | Ethylene Oxide | |
| Methyl Formate | ||
| Strawberry | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| Chloropicrin | Furfural | |
| Dazomet*** | Propargyl Bromide | |
| Iodomethane** | ||
| Metam Sodium | ||
| Terbacil | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin + Metam Sodium | ||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | ||
| Strawberry Nursery | Chloropicrin | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| 1,3-Dichloropropene | Furfural | |
| Iodomethane** | Propargyl Bromide | |
| Metam Sodium | Sodium Azide | |
| Tomato | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| Chloropicrin | Furfural | |
| Dazomet*** | Pebulate | |
| Iodomethane** | Propargyl Bromide | |
| Metam Sodium | Sodium Azide | |
| Glyphosate | ||
| Paraquat | ||
| Halosulfuron-methyl | ||
| s-Metolachlor | ||
| Trifloxysulfuron-methyl | ||
| Rimsulfuron | ||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | ||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | ||
| Fosthiazate | ||
| Turf (sod) | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Dimethyl Disulfide |
| Chloropicrin | Furfural | |
| Iodomethane** | Sodium Azide | |
| Metam Sodium | ||
| Dazomet | ||
| Dazomet + Chloropicrin | ||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin |
*Research on-going to evaluate efficacy in controlling mites
**Federally registered (as of October 2008). Not registered in California, New York, and Washington.
***The registration for Dazomet is limited to California only.
In some situations involving small-scale production, there are non-chemical alternatives to methyl bromide. For example, steam sterilization of soil is a viable alternative for the use of chemical fumigants in some soil types. In the post-harvest sectors, sanitation and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques are used to manage pest populations and extend the time between chemical fumigations. Pheromone traps, electrocution traps, and light traps are also used to monitor pest populations.
OTHER INFORMATION
Annual Methyl Bromide Alternatives Outreach (MBAO) Conference
Additional information about alternatives to methyl bromide as they relate to individual sectors can be found in the annual U.S. Nomination submission. Between 1995 and 1997, EPA published Case Studies about alternatives to methyl bromide. For copies of these Case Studies, please call the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Hotline at 1-800-296-1996.