Chemically Speaking - July 2006

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Pesticide Registrations and Actions

Other Regulatory Decisions

The EPA has completed its cumulative risk assessment for the chlorinated triazine class of pesticides and concluded that, with mitigation measures for atrazine and simazine outlined in those individual decisions, the cumulative risks associated with the triazines are below the Food Quality Protection Act regulatory level of concern.  Triazine tolerances - residue limits in food and feed - have been reassessed and found to meet safety standards established by the Food Quality Protection Act.  The chlorinated triazine pesticides include atrazine, simazine, propazine, and their three chlorinated degradates.  Atrazine and simazine are used on a variety of food and feed crops including grains, fruits, and nuts, as well as on turf grasses grown in the Southeastern United States.  Propazine is registered for indoor greenhouse use only and has existing tolerances established for residues on sorghum.  Examining three regions of the United States where triazine residues are likely to co-occur (the Midwest, California, and Florida) and four exposure scenarios (drinking water in each region, plus combined drinking water and home lawn or golf course exposure in Florida), EPA concluded that cumulative exposures to triazine residues are not of concern in any of the four exposure scenarios.  (EPA Update, 6/26/06).