August 21, 2006

ISSUE 1129

EPA ANNOUNCES DECISIONS FOR METHYL BROMIDE COMMODITY USES
 
EPA has completed its review of the commodity uses of methyl bromide. To reduce potential risks of concern to workers and bystanders from acute inhalation exposure, the agency is requiring a number of mitigation measures, including site-specific fumigant management plans, respiratory protection, buffer zones, posting, and notification.
 
EPA has determined that methyl bromide’s commodity uses are eligible for reregistration and its tolerances meet FQPA safety standards, provided that risk mitigation measures identified in the methyl bromide decision document are adopted and product labels are amended accordingly.
 
EPA is currently assessing risks and will be developing risk management decisions for five soil fumigant pesticides: chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium, methyl bromide, and a new active ingredient, iodomethane. Risks of a sixth soil fumigant, 1,3-D (Telone), will be discussed for comparative purposes; the Telone risk management decision was completed in 1998.
 
The agency is evaluating these soil fumigants concurrently to ensure that human health risk assessment approaches are consistent, and that risk tradeoffs and economic outcomes can be considered appropriately in reaching risk management decisions.
 
EPA’s report is available at the methyl bromide reregistration web page at http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/methyl_bromide/.

 
 
REMINDER:
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