Draft Lists of Pesticides and Inerts Released

In mid-June, the EPA released a draft list of pesticide active ingredients that are to go through a battery of tests known as the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP).  The EDSP was recommended by the Endocrine Disruptor Screening and Testing Advisory Committee at the end of 1998.  This committee recommended that the Agency address both potential human and ecological effects and examine effects on estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormone related processes.  The program is also intended to examine the effect of mixtures and contaminants.

Priority setting for this list was based on exposure pathways.  The maximum number of pathways is 4 (food, water, residential, occupational).  The active ingredients on the 4 pathways list include 2,4-D, atrazine, benfluralin, bifenthrin, captan, carbaryl, chlorothalonil, chlorpyrifos, dichlobenil, disulfoton, fenvalerate, glyphosate, imidacloprid, malathion, mefenoxam, methiocarb, metolachlor, metribuzin, myclobutanil, norflurazon, permethrin, propiconazole, propyzamide, quintozene, simazine, triadimefon, and trifluralin.  A number of other common pesticides used in Florida were on the 3 pathways list.  These are all members of the 64 pesticides on the draft list for testing in the EDSP program.

In addition to the pesticides, inerts such as phthalates, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, and isophorone were on the draft list.  The Agency is accepting comments on the draft list and acknowledges that the list was done based on potential exposure rather than endocrine-disrupting potential.  The public is encouraged to comment on the list and the comment period is open until September 17, 2007.  (Federal Register, 6/18/07).