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On June 3, 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule on setting tolerances for Section 18 emergency exemptions. Have you read it? If not, you should. It may change the way you market your crops.
The proposal deals in part with four suggested approaches to setting time-limited tolerances for Section 18s. These four approaches are outlined toward the end of this article. But hidden within the text is a little paragraph that could pose significant problems for those operating under a crisis exemption. It reads as follows:
Occasionally, use of the pesticide might occur before EPA actually establishes the necessary time-limited tolerance, such as in the case of a crisis exemption. When a time-limited tolerance is established after the time that use of the pesticide product is authorized, the residues on the subject commodity are only legal during the period of time prior to the expiration and revocation of the tolerance. In other words, there would be no 'pipeline' provision for treated commodities if use occurred before a tolerance was set.
All time-limited tolerances have an expiration date. To keep things neat and tidy, a tolerance revocation usually occurs at the same time. Even after revocation, food that contains residues of a pesticide will still be legally marketable so long as the residues are the result of lawful use of the pesticide under the terms of the exemption and are at levels within the established tolerance. This is called a "pipeline provision," because it allows for the time lag of the processing, marketing, and distribution pipeline. In practical terms, it means if a grower applies a pesticide during the exemption period and the measured residues on the food fall within the allowable category, everything is fine. If the pesticide is applied outside of the exemption time period, the grower could face legal action for improper application, but if the food residue were within allowable levels, the food would not be considered adulterated and could be sold. Under the wording of the above paragraph, this would not apply to commodities treated under a crisis exemption.
I found this so startling, I called the EPA to make sure I had read this paragraph right. Indeed, I had. Under this language, if you use a pesticide under a crisis exemption, the tolerance revocation date is the drop-dead date for your commodity. If it is marketed after that date it is considered adulterated.
Unless the proposed rule language is changed, growers and processors will need to carefully track the movement of their crisis-treated commodities to ensure they don't get caught with adulterated foodstuffs.
If the petition requests a long time-limited tolerance, EPA will consider it in order to help clear the channels of trade. However, under the proposed wording, no "pipeline provision" exists for the marketing of treated commodities.
As this
newsletter went to press, Washington State Department of Agriculture
(WSDA) was responding to EPA on behalf of Washington growers.
Their correspondence suggests that EPA should consider establishing
time-limited tolerances for an extended number of years (instead
of just two years), and that the pipeline provision be allowed
for commodities treated under a crisis exemption. Comments are
being officially accepted until August 2, 1999, at opp-docket@epamail.epa.
gov. Refer to docket OPP-181051. Often,
EPA will accept comments after the deadline, as long as you get
them in quickly.
The bulk of EPA's proposed ruling deals with four different approaches being considered for setting time-limited tolerances for Section 18 exemptions.
As many of you know, the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) requires EPA to establish time-limited tolerances, or exemptions from a tolerance, for any pesticide use under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Section 18 that may result in residues in or on food. (I'm using the word "tolerance" throughout the article to mean both "tolerance" and "exemption from the requirement of a tolerance.") Before FQPA, EPA did not establish a tolerance; they simply told the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): (1) they had granted an emergency exemption, and (2) the residue levels that would be present in or on affected foods. FDA would then refrain from enforcement on residue-containing foods that had resulted from a pesticide used under the exemption.
Times have changed, however, and EPA now considers the following points when issuing a time-limited tolerance:
EPA tries to notify Section 18 applicants of their decision within fifty calendar days of receipt of application. In the 1998 fiscal year, EPA averaged fifty-six days for notification. In order to perform a timely review within this fifty-day goal, EPA said in the Federal Register that it "believes it is reasonable to rely on available data." That means they won't wait for data to be generated, nor for data submitted for other petitions to be reviewed.
Presently, EPA evaluates each Section 18 petition on a case-by-case basis. First, they determine whether adequate reliable data are available to determine safety. Many Section 18 petitions are for chemicals already approved for use on other crops; in those cases, human health and environmental data are often readily available. If adequate data are not available, EPA may ask the applicant to submit additional data or may deny the petition. Bear in mind that applicants are not likely to have that sort of data available, and that the costs of generating such data usually make it unrealistic for the applicant to supply it.
Additional information on data requirements, a Pesticide Registration (PR) notice was issued on January 31, 1997. You may view this document, PR 97-1, at www.epa.gov:80/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/1999/June/Day-09/6071.pdf.
Four
Proposed ApproachesEPA is considering four different approaches on setting Section 18 time-limited tolerances.
Approach One is to continue with the case-by-case method they have been using since August 3, 1996. EPA is in favor of this approach as their review time is near the fifty-day goal and the system seems to be working.
Approach Two is
to require the entire data set used for full tolerance applications.
EPA is not in favor of this approach as it is "unduly burdensome"
to the applicants and would be "impractical" for the
agency to review on the fifty-day track.
Approach Three is to create a new minimum data set specifically
for Section 18s. This would be a subset of the data normally required
for a full tolerance application. EPA is not in favor of this
approach either, as they believe that it would also cause significant
delays in their review time and that applicants would still be
unable to supply the technical data.
Approach Four is to skip doing a full risk assessment, assessing instead the incremental risk of the proposed Section 18 use only. If EPA found the incremental risk insignificant, it would establish a time-limited tolerance and grant the Section 18 use without conducting a full aggregate risk assessment for the existing uses. EPA did not comment on whether or not it supported this approach, which was proposed by the National Food Processors Association.
Dr. Catherine Daniels is the Pesticide Coordinator at Washington State University's Pesticide Information Center, and Managing Editor of Agrichemical and Environmental News. She can be reached at cdaniels@tricity.wsu.edu or (509) 372-7495.
(NOTE: To obtain information from
the Federal Register, point your browser to http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/ and click on the calendar date you want. For
the full text of the proposed ruling discussed here, click on
June 3 of the 1999 calendar. Scroll to Environmental Protection
Agency, then Proposed Rules: Pesticides: Emergency Exemptions.)
Ten years ago in the Pacific Northwest, apple growers removed hundreds of acres of Red Delicious trees, mostly in reaction to media-generated public apprehension about a synthetic plant hormone used to enhance fruit color to levels demanded by the consumer at large. During the ensuing decade, concerns about pesticides in foods and the environment continued to increase, resulting in movements (including the federal Food Quality Protection Act of 1996) to severely restrict the use of some of the most frequently used pesticides. However, consumer preference for blemish-free products declined only slightly. One corporate response to the dilemma was to develop pesticides of novel chemistries and modes of action that are less toxic to mammals than conventional pesticides. In many cases, such agents were designed to suppress target pests while selectively allowing for the establishment and development of arthropod natural enemies and pollinators. Hence, they were termed "biorational." Unfortunately, biorationals usually cost more to produce than conventional pesticides and often require specific application timing, hence greater monitoring efforts.
In an effort to facilitate development and use of reduced-risk
pesticides, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pledged
to "fast-track" 
registration
of such agents, yet that process is still time-consuming and expensive.
Traditional agricultural practices are slow to change, especially
on the family farm. Commodity markets are erratic. Throw in the
effects of weather and international markets and the economic
puzzle is virtually unfathomable. For example, apple growers removed
hundreds of acres of Red Delicious trees last year, mostly in
reaction to an influx of Chinese apple juice, made from apples
which may have been treated with broad-spectrum organophosphate
pesticides.
You all are aware of such environmental and economic "Catch-22s," but they are magnified to us who work in minor crops, where government and corporate interests are smaller, alternative markets are fewer, and the fate of an entire industry can depend on the production of a few growing regions. The web of ironies, controversies, and realities is especially tangled in Washington State cranberry production.
In collaboration with the Cranberry Institute, Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., the EPA, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and others, we envisioned a plan to revise the current insect pest management program in Washington State cranberries. Such plans, known as "transition strategies," are designed to affect a transition to reduced-risk pesticide chemistries and application methods, while maintaining economic viability of the industry. Strategies must take into account not only the primary pest(s), but other factors particular to a cropping pattern.
Our transition strategy focused on the key pest of the region, the blackheaded fireworm (BHFW), Rhopobota naevana. Following an initial screening of several pesticides, we conducted two years of field plot trials featuring selected pesticides and application techniques, on-farm season-long demonstration trials, and grower education manuals and workshops.
The cultivated cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.), indigenous to northeastern North America, is limited in production and range, since it requires large amounts of water and acidic soils (pH 4.55.5). It was initially grown only in natural peat bogs on both northern coasts of North America. These environmentally sensitive wetland areas are not especially well suited for other agricultural pursuits. In Washington, cranberries are grown on the Long Beach peninsula and in Grayland (Pacific and Grays Harbor counties), both formerly important ports for local fisheries now in decline.
For decades, cranberry insect pests were suppressed to very low levels with DDT, then parathion. Since the loss of parathion in 1995, diazinon, acephate, and azinphosmethyl have been used. Today, the registrations of these three pesticides in cranberry are threatened by concerns about environmental effects. Organophosphate residues have been found in surface water samples collected from ditches draining from cranberry bogs in Washington at levels that exceed the LC50 for some aquatic invertebrates. (LC50 is defined as the lethal concentration for 50% of the subject organisms.) This, along with other water quality issues, has been a major concern of a neighboring tribe of Native Americans. Although a 1997 EPA report, "The Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation: A Limited Environmental Assessment 1994-1995" could not link surface water contamination to neonatal health problems of the tribe, it did recommend that federal and state agencies work closely with growers and other parties to revise and improve the process of selecting pesticides.
The pesticide application process is also under scrutiny. In West Coast cranberry, nearly all insecticides and fungicides are applied through solid set sprinkler systems. Chemigation procedures are easier and less detrimental to cranberry vines than application by boom sprayer, but are much less accurate. Even well constructed, properly maintained, and correctly calibrated systems may deliver different volumes of water before and after the pesticide, depending on the distance between sprinkler and pump.
The cranberry industry is trying to reduce the potential for environmental contamination in several ways. An initial approach, based on recommendations from regulatory agencies, was for growers to permanently cover the drainage ditches surrounding their bogs. At a later point, these same agencies decided that covers would block too much light and disrupt the aquatic community. Our research has taken a second approach: the judicious application of reduced-risk material.
Biorational control strategies necessitate a complete understanding of target pests, so our first step was to understand the life cycle and habits of BHFW. BHFW, for example, has a more protected habitat than many caterpillars, including other leafrollers. The timing of its biological phases is also less predictable. In growing regions such as Wisconsin, a temperature-driven model can accurately predict emergence of the larvae from the eggs. But in Washington, the overwintering egg hatches from late April through May, when weather conditions are extremely unpredictable. First instar larvae mine the insides of cranberry leaves for a few days before moving to feed on the flower buds, where they reside inside a webbed cluster of petals fairly invulnerable to contact pesticides. This invulnerable period and the uncertainty of its timing complicate management efforts.
First generation adults generally emerge during late May to mid-June, but cool temperatures can delay egg laying and emergence from the egg. Consequently, BHFW are present in multiple life-stages during July and second generation larvae reach the invulnerable stage inside developing berries during August. Second generation adults emerge from early August to mid-September and produce both a third larval generation and overwintering eggs.
An economic threshold level for BHFW has not been determined, but the traditional practice has been to apply an insecticide on May 5 if more than two larvae are found per twenty-five sweeps with a hand-held net. In recent years, applications against second generation larvae were made two weeks after peak abundance of male moths captured in pheromone traps.
Our initial objectives were to screen several pesticides, feeding stimulants, and adjuvants for efficacy against BHFW larvae (some of these are shown in Figure 1). Results aided in the selection of tebufenozide (Confirm®, Rohm and Haas) and spinosad (then NAF-315, Novartis; now Spintor® and Success®, Dow AgroSciences) for further study and advancement in the registration process. In 1998 (the second year), we focused not only on relative efficacies, but also on the importance of number and time of applications and the effects of post-application wash-off. We also initiated several on-farm whole-bog trials featuring tebufenozide to target young larvae and a sprayable formulation of encapsulated synthetic female BHFW pheromones (then No-Mate®, Ecogen; now MEC, 3M Canada) to disrupt mating. To keep costs low, we included some Bt- based pesticides (Crymax®, Ecogen; and Mattch®, then Mycogen now Dow AgroSciences). Results showed the program effectively reduced fruit damage, especially by season's end (Figure 2).
|
FIGURE 2 |
|
|
|
Seasonal abundance of BHFW male moth and percentage fruit damage at Farm 4, 1998. Arrows indicate pesticide applications. |
Representatives of the cranberry industry have been fairly successful in lobbying the EPA to both conserve existing organophosphate pesticides and acquire registration of new materials. The Cranberry Institute is a paradigm for the coordination of research efforts among regions and the prioritization of compounds to be advanced to the registration pathway. Still, the recent profusion and rapid evolution of biorational products have been somewhat confounding. For example, after two years of intensive efforts to register tebufenozide in cranberry, another chemical of similar structure and mode of action, methoxyfenozide (Intrepid®, Rohm and Haas) has demonstrated superior efficacy in some trials, tempting some cranberry workers to refocus on that material. Unfortunately, the EPA is very reluctant to issue an emergency exemption (Section 18) for a pesticide if another has advanced to that stage or beyond (Section 3 status). This holds even for cases of potential resistance development. Because tebufenozide has been granted a Section 3, we had to withdraw our application for a Section 18 for spinosad.
Although we have had good cooperation from corporate registrants (e.g., Rohm and Haas, Dow AgroSciences, 3M Canada) such huge multi-national conglomerates are sometimes reluctant to invest in minor crops, especially if short-term economic futures of the crop are bleak.
Our transition strategy was recently
frustrated by a major crash in the cranberry market, caused mostly
by overplanting. We surveyed growers to measure, among other things,
their willingness to invest in a biorational program to manage
BHFW. Results were fairly encouraging (Figure 3), but growers
farming at a low or negative return are much less willing to adopt
pest management strategies that require extensive monitoring and
more expensive materials.
In conclusion, our transition strategy from a conventional to a more integrated and biorational pest management system has been somewhat frustrated by the unpredicted recent economic downturn in the cranberry market. But we have continued to meet our research objectives and adapt them to current realities. This season, we have measured the subtle effects of chemigation and different volumes of wash-off. We have enlisted several grower-cooperators to better demonstrate season-long whole-farm biorational programs in a commercial setting. We are developing preliminary data to better estimate the economic threshold levels of BHFW. As prices of biorational pesticides decline, the economic outlook for their use improves, and growers become more confident that these programs will work, large-scale implementation will increase.
Drs. Steve Booth and Kim Patten conduct their research at the WSU Long Beach research and extension unit. They can be reached at (360) 642-2031 or via e-mail at booths@coopext.cahe.wsu.edu or pattenk@coopext.cahe.wsu.edu, respectively.
AcknowledgementsThese studies
were financed by |
SEX. Got your attention? The subject seems to have grabbed the nation by theoh well, you know what I mean. From Monica Lewinsky to worries over disruption of sex hormones by environmental contaminants, everyone is talking about sex. Bad sex. What has this to do with pesticides, my usual subject focus? Well, headline news about a year ago proclaimed that sex ratios (the number of males born compared to the number of females) are going down in several developed countries including the United States. And the purported culprit behind this feminization of America? Synthetic chemicals, of course. Among them, pesticides.
A provocative article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) observed that the proportion of male births has declined in several industrial countries in the past three decades (1). This decline was touted as a "sentinel health event," defined as "an unusual pattern of health in a population that signals changes in avoidable factors." The avoidable factors are hypothesized to be chemicals known as endocrine disrupters (EDCs, for "endocrine disrupting chemicals"). The list of EDCs, courtesy of the Environmental Defense Fund (http://www.scorecard.org/health-effects/) now encompasses 190 chemicals. Included are the usual suspects and a whole lot more: pesticides (30% of total), drugs, dioxins, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons), heavy metals, alkyl phenols (surfactants), plasticizers, dyes, solvents, and fuel. In short, you name it, it's probably on the list or will be shortly.
To give greater credence to the skewing of the sex ratio hypothesis as related to environmental contaminants, the JAMA article cites studies on other male reproductive maladies. Thus, another hypothesis of something terribly wrong is an increasing incidence of penile malformations known as hypospadias and cryptorchidism, prostrate and testicular cancer, and a trend since the 1950s of a decrease in sperm counts. All of these maladies deserve essays of their own, but my main concern this month is the apparently dwindling number of males.
The sex ratio is expressed as the ratio of the number of males
born in a given year relative to the number of females. For example,
if 106 males are born in a population, but only 100 females, then
the sex ratio is 1.06. This ratio can be converted to the proportion
of males born by dividing the number of males born by the total
number of males plus females born. Thus, in the above example,
the proportion of males born is 0.515 (106 males divided by 206
total births). 
In the United States, the proportion of males dropped from about 0.513 in 1970 to about 0.512 in 1990. This change represents a decline of 0.001, or a loss of one male birth out of every 1000 births. While this decrease in proportion may seem trivial, the JAMA article points out that, over the two decades, this shift accounts for 38,000 births. Similar declines were observed between 1950 and 1994 in Netherlands and Denmark.
Any linkage made in a wide-ranging epidemiological study purportedly showing a change in some health indicator, whether it be cancer or sex ratios, must have biological plausibility. The biological plausibility used by the JAMA article comes from laboratory studies that feed rats environmentally uncharacteristic high doses of a suspected endocrine disrupter and then examine testis weight, prostate weight, and sperm production. The prevailing hypothesis is that exposure to an EDC early in fetal development "imprints rapidly growing reproductive tract cells for later developmental disorders, ranging from testicular cancer to reproductive difficulties" (1).
How might
the presence of an EDC in a fetus affect sex ratio? Everyone learned
in school that gender is determined by the types of sex chromosomes
that the embryo has inherited from his or her parents. Thus, an
embryo with two X chromosomes becomes a female, but an X and Y
chromosome produces a male. What you learned in school notwithstanding,
sex determination is actually more complicated. One hypothesis
states that the hormone milieu in the developing fetus actually
determines the development of the organs and later physiology
that distinguish a male and a female. If the normal hormone mix
in the fetus is altered, for example by an EDC that mimics estrogen
or inhibits testosterone action, then the tissues supposedly might
develop into the sex opposite the one dictated by the genes (2).
No one has proven that this alteration of the fetal hormone mix applies to the human embryo. It has been proven, however, that the gender of reptiles, which is determined by environmental temperatures as much as by chromosomes, can be altered by exposure to a sufficient concentration of certain EDCs (3). For example, turtle eggs incubated at 26°C end up hatching as all males, while eggs at 32°C end up as all females. At 29.2°C, equal numbers of male and female turtles are born. Curiously, for lizards and alligators, the higher temperature results in all males, while the lower temperature causes all females. When turtle eggs incubated at a male-determining temperature are painted with one of the PCB chemicals, the eggs mostly hatch as females.
Another hypothesis holds that the hormonal levels of the parents at the time of conception affect the sex ratio (4-6). In this hypothesis, higher levels of testosterone in the mother and father result in a greater proportion of male births. Any chemical or condition (for example, certain illnesses) that lowers the testosterone levels at the time of conception result in a preponderance of females. The physiological mechanism for control of sex ratio is still a bit obscure, but a biochemical factor in male semen and an associated enzyme in the female reproductive tract could influence whether a zygote is likely to be male or female (5). This hypothesis leaves the door open to the premise that an EDC could affect the levels of these biochemical factors.
Others have examined the declining sex ratio hypothesis in more detail than the JAMA article (7). The JAMA article conveniently left out U.S. sex-ratio data prior to 1970. In 1950, the sex ratio was about the same as in 1970, and it declined until about 1960. In fact, the 1960 sex ratio was lower than in 1970 but steadily rose over the next decade. Considering that acknowledged EDCs like DDT and PCBs were in heavy use between 1950 and the 1970s, it is difficult to understand why the sex ratio would have increased between 1960 and 1970. Furthermore, the level of DDT and other chlorinated contaminants in our bodies has been steadily declining throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Why would sex ratio go down in the 1980s when contamination is going down? (Bear in mind that sex determination is an effect occurring close in time to contaminant exposure. With cancer and fertility problems, adverse effects would not be observed until long after birth.)
The fact of the matter is that sex ratio fluctuates from year to year. The highest U.S. sex-ratio levels were observed between 1940 and 1950 but were different each year of that decade. Even the JAMA article shows that the sex ratio declined after 1970, but by 1974, it was back to the 1970 levels. As pointed out in a letter to the JAMA editor, "trends in the sex ratio may depend on the arbitrary choices made in selecting the initial and final years and the actual period in which the births occurred." (8)
Arbitrary selection factors are illustrated well by the following data set. Between 1970 and 1990, the sex ratio for African-Americans actually increased. If the benchmark year had been 1960, the sex ratio trend toward more males would have been more dramatic. The JAMA article neglected to point out this statistic for African-Americans. In addition to ignoring sex ratio data from before 1970, this hypothesis does not account for the fact that synthetic EDCs were around before World War II. Furthermore, not all industrialized countries have been experiencing a declining trend in sex ratios. Australian sex ratios trends have tilted slightly upward between the early 1920's and mid 1990's (8). Are African-Americans and Australians not exposed to the same EDCs as U.S. Caucasians? This drives home the problem with using the U.S. sex ratio as a sentinel indicator of a widespread effect of EDCs on human health.
Historically, at least one pesticide, DBCP (dibromochloropropane), a fumigant that was banned in the late 1970s, has been shown to adversely affect reproduction in production plant workers and also to skew the sex ratio of their offspring (9). Related cases of infertility among production plant workers are well documented. However, applicators of DBCP were not as adversely affected, showing a weak trend for reduction in sperm production only at the highest exposure levels (10). Once a production plant worker or applicator was removed from exposure, reproductive problems evaporated.
Other occupational exposures have been associated with sex ratios
lower than expected, but the association with environmental contamination
has only been made for dioxins. During 1976, a chemical plant
in Seveso, Italy, exploded and released kilogram quantities of
the most toxic dioxin form, TCDD. Such high exposures to TCDD
among the general population had been unprecedented. It was noted
only recently that the sex ratio of children born within seven
years of the explosion was highly skewed to females (11). Out of 74 total births, 26 were
male and 48 female. The ratio returned to normal for children
born after 1985. Pertinently, a correlation was noted between
parents with extraordinarily high TCDD blood levels and a preponderance
of female births. Parents with lower TCDD levels gave birth to
a more normal ratio-i.e., a preponderance of males. This story
illustrates another well known toxicological principle. Biological
effects are related to dose as well as timing of an exposure rather
than to the mere presence or absence of a contaminant.
W. H. James, a long-time student of sex ratio as a biological phenomenon and the progenitor of the hypothesis that the hormonal levels of both parents greatly influence the outcome of birth gender, wrote letters to two journals regarding the JAMA article's hypothesis (12, 13). In each he agreed that individual and specific exposure incidents such as documented for DBCP and observed for TCDD can be useful to examine associations between contaminant exposure and reproductive hazards. But he also maintained that sex ratios are useless as sentinel health indicators in the human population. One reason for this conclusion is that he believes the ups and downs of trends in sex ratio represent a feed back mechanism whereby a population alters its sex ratio in response to current trends. In the case of humans, medical improvements throughout the 20th century have brought about increasing sex ratios, so perhaps the seemingly recent declines are the slight adjustments that bring the ratio back to some biologically optimal level.
In a lighter vein, one critic of the JAMA article pointed out the absurdity of taking the effects of a toxic agent in a specific circumstance as proof for a universal decline in health (14). The writer pointed out that the sex ratio of offspring among fighter pilots is skewed toward girls, perhaps as a result of one parent being subjected to higher than normal gravity forces (i.e., G forces) during acceleration (15). If this hypothesis is correct in this specific subpopulation, then logically there should be a decline in the sex ratio for the whole United States. After all, high-speed elevators, roller coasters, and airplane travel have subjected most people to higher than normal G forces.
Dr. Allan S. Felsot is an environmental toxicologist with Washington State University. He can be reached at afelsot@tricity.wsu.edu or (509) 372-7365.
Agriculture is recognized as a hazardous occupation nationwide. Because of this, the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), using funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), set up regional agricultural safety and health centers across the country. In Federal Region 10 (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, the Pacific Northwest) the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (PNASH) is housed in the Department of Environmental Medicine at the University of Washington, but is not part of the Department. The Center (PNASH), now in its third year, uses the federal definition of agriculture, which includes forest industries and commercial fishing.
Because Center personnel were most familiar with commercial agriculture, PNASH first concentrated on learning the extent and severity of agricultural health and safety hazards which are largely unknown in the Pacific Northwest region. The major thrust of this effort culminated in a Farm Summit held in January of 1998 in Portland.
In planning the Farm Summit, Center personnel
engaged health and safety professionals as well as labor and industry
representatives in a dialogue concerning the relative importance
of specific hazards. The process got under way when Center personnel
met with health and safety professionals at regional conferences
to learn their concerns. One of the objectives of these meetings
was to establish a regional network of health and safety professionals
who can meet periodically to exchange insights and ideas.
The objective of the Farm Summit was hazard identification and determination of a priority ranking of health and safety issues. The summit provided an opportunity for the airing of diverse perspectives, but it also resulted in a relative ranking of hazards.
During the planning phase of the Farm Summit, Center staff agreed that the Summit would serve as a setting to establish an Agricultural and Regional Occupational Research Agenda for the Northwest (NORA), adapting some of the techniques and criteria of NIOSH's NORA process.
The process included:
Prior to the summit, the Center identified and contacted appropriate representatives of constituencies (producer groups, labor, academic institutions, public agencies, and health care organizations) who had experience in the area of farming health and safety.
Between November and February 1997, Center staff members conducted phone interviews with 116 constituents. The phone interview consisted of eight questions. Respondents were asked to name the most important health and safety hazards faced by those who work in agriculture in the region/industry. The respondent was then asked to state which of those hazards were most serious in terms of people injured and seriousness of risk. The interview also included questions regarding research directions to address the health hazards, types of training and/or interventions which would also help reduce the risks, and sources of health and safety information. In addition, each respondent was asked for suggestions of other individuals who could provide answers to the phone interview questions. The majority of those people who were recommended were contacted and interviewed.
During the phone interview, respondents were also asked to recommend individuals representing labor, producers, academic institutions, health care organizations, or public agencies for the Farm Summit. These individuals were invited and many subsequently attended the Summit, which was held on March 6, 1998, in Portland, Oregon.
The Summit agenda
was designed to solicit participation from attendees and accomplish
a number of goals. These included: seeking areas of consensus
about key agricultural safety and health problems; involving stakeholders
in identifying issues that can be addressed by occupational safety
and health research; establishing an occupational safety and health
research agenda for agriculture in the Northwest; and identifying
individuals who could serve on a technical advisory panel to the
Center. During the Summit, it was emphasized that the aim was
to develop a research agenda for the region, not specifically
for the Northwest Center.
During the meeting, agricultural health and safety hazards were discussed in small group settings. In the morning, participants were separated by constituent groups and asked to prioritize key agricultural health and safety problems, then nominate individuals to serve on an advisory board. In the afternoon, these constituent groups presented their priority lists to the entire group, which were then re-prioritized by all participants. New groups combining constituents were formed and asked to brainstorm solutions and research problems and bring four top recommendations to the entire group. The recommendations were then discussed and each list was voted on by all participants.
The Pacific Northwest Center's Farm Summit was cited in the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda publication, National Occupational Research Agenda Update, National Institute of Occupational Health, Washington DC, July 1998, as an example of a project which used the National Research Agenda process as a model to conduct a regional hazard priority ranking effort. Other organizations, such as the California Institute for Rural Studies, have subsequently requested further information about the Farm Summit for the planning and implementation of their own regional summit.
PNASH personnel are currently finalizing the Summit proceedings. However, some of the initial data which summarized responses to the initial telephone questions shows that among agricultural groups and organizations, and others constituency groups who attended the Summit, the biggest concern was misuse or improper operation of farm equipment. This included large equipment as well as powered hand tools and shop equipment. Following this category was ergonomic issues such as slips, falls, strains and sprains. Interestingly, problems dealing with agricultural chemicals, including such materials as dairy disinfectants, were well down the list of cited problems. Those less familiar with commercial agriculture were more prone to cite concerns about agricultural chemicals than those people who actually work with the materials.
The Summit proceedings will be disseminated to attendees and individuals who participated in the phone interviews. The proceedings will also be posted on the Pacific Northwest Center's website at http://depts.washington.edu/pnash/home.htm.
PNASH personnel are currently in the process of setting up a Forestry Summit to be held February, 2000, in Seattle, Washington. The objective of this summit is to establish a hazard priority ranking for forest workers as well as the sawmill industry and wildland fire fighters.
The Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, funded by NIOSH, is one of eight such centers in the United States. The Center's mandate is to study occupational health and safety issues in farming, forestry and fishing in the four Region X states of Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Dr. Richard Fenske is the Center Director, Dr. Matthew Keifer is Co-Director, and Sharon Morris is Associate Director. Adrienne Hidy is the Center's Administrator, and Marcy White is the Program Coordinator.
This article was prepared by Norm Herdrich, PNASH Outreach Coordinator. He can be contacted at (509) 926-1704 or normh@u.washington.edu.
The seventh annual Food Safety Farm to Table Conference was presented May 26 and 27 in Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington. A project of the Northwest Food Safety Consortium, the conference was sponsored by Washington State University (WSU) Cooperative Extension and University of Idaho (U of I) Cooperative Extension System. Nine of the fifteen presentations at this year's conference focused on matters microbial, while only two ("Heavy Metals, Soils, and Washington's Food Supply" and "Safe Use of Manure and Compost") addressed soil-related concerns more in line with those typically addressed in Agrichemical and Environmental News.
Are naturally
occurring pathogens taking the heat off pesticides? Coincidentally,
a June press release from the American Council on Science and
Health (ACSH) unambiguously titled "Microbes, Not Chemicals,
Are the Major Source of Foodborne Illness" quotes University
of California professor Dr. Dean O. Cliver as saying, "Reports
of recent outbreaks of illness caused by (E. coli, various
Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes) have demonstrated
that microbial hazards are more significant for food safety than
are hazards associated with food additives and pesticide residues."
The conference opened with a five-part session entitled Pathogens du Jour, chaired by WSU's Dr. Dale Hancock. U of I's Dr. Carolyn Bohach began the session by deconstructing the highly publicized Cornell University study that claimed feeding cattle hay could reduce E. coli risks to humans. Her talk, "Will Feeding Cattle Hay Solve the E. coli 0157 Problem?" pointed out the weaknesses of Cornell's research and presented U of I research (to be published in July) that drew different, even contrary, conclusions. Referring to the Cornell study, Dr. Hancock observed, "Hypotheses are like backyard chickens--you'd best not get attached to them, because you might have to eat them."
Dr. Truls Nesbakken of the Norwegian
Meat Cooperative spoke on the very topical "Control of Lysteria
monocytogenes in the Meat Industry." This highly publicized
pathogen has been connected with ready-to-eat processed meats
(e.g., cold cuts) and soft cheeses, grows well despite refrigeration,
and poses particular risks to the very young, the elderly, pregnant
women, and immune-compromised individuals including alcoholics
and diabetics. While Lysteria can originate in feed and be transmitted
via the live animal's skin and feces, Dr. Nesbakken's main focus
was transmittal in the slaughter and handling phases. He concluded
that Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) strategies
are not enough, and emphasized the importance of thorough cleaning/disinfecting
and avoiding cross-contamination. Increased automation helps by
reducing operator-to-product contact. Norway has implemented a
daily testing program, is researching the addition of lactate
and acetate to susceptible product to inhibit Lysteria monocytogenes
growth, and is investigating the success of introducing protective
cultures to the processing environment.
After a video from USDA on their risk assessment model for E. coli 0157:H7, Dr. Nesbakken returned to the podium to discuss "Yersinia enterocolitica: The Bacterium That Came In with the Pig." Yersinia, related to the Black Death of the 14th century, is carried primarily on pigs and pork. Most severe outbreaks have occurred in the United States, and symptoms include abdominal pain and diarrhea. Predisposition factors include drinking untreated water, eating sausage and/or pork, and eating raw and/or rare meat. Evidence (albeit indirect) that pigs are carriers include Yersinia occurrence correlation with human/pig proximity, the fact that human and porcine strains are identical, and rarity in (non-pork-eating) Moslem countries, as well as case-study and survey data. Farrow-to-finish herds (where pigs are raised from birth to slaughter in the same herd, as opposed to mixing purchased pigs from various sources) show a lower instance of Yersinia contamination. Use of plastic bags to contain the pig's rectum immediately upon its removal from the carcass has been shown to reduce contamination significantly. A demonstration video of the bag-and-rectum maneuver was shown to conference attendees-its impact on the group's subsequent lunch consumption was not determined.
Brandi Wallace of WSU finished the morning session by discussing "Antimicrobial Resistant E. coli in Cattle Feeds." In a 1998 WSU study, 30% of cattle feeds studied were found to be contaminated with E. coli. A 1995 study showed presence of Salmonella as well. Recent studies have shown that both E. coli and Salmonella can replicate when moisture is added to the feed. Indications are that contaminated feed could transmit pathogens to the cattle, and that some strains are resistant to antibiotic treatment. Wallace's research is ongoing, with no imminent publication scheduled.
Wednesday afternoon's
session, moderated by Dr. Val Hillers of WSU, focused on Effects
of Crop and Land Treatments on Safety of Foods. It began with
extension soil scientist Dr. Bob Stevens from WSU's Irrigated
Agriculture Research & Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser
presenting "Heavy Metals, Soils, and Washington's Food Supply."
Stevens presented background on the public concern regarding heavy
metals in Washington state soils, including
Stevens defined "heavy metals" as arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, lead, selenium, and zinc, pointing out that some of these, such as molybdenum and zinc, are required by plants for growth. Many are present at trace levels in our soils at all times. Metals arrive in the soil through a variety of means; one over which we have some control is fertilizer application. Washington, in part because of the high media attention resulting from the 1997 and 1998 incidents, has taken the lead in establishing fertilizer regulation. (Current information can be found on the Internet at http://www.wa.gov/agr/.) Dr. Stevens emphasized that the real concern is not the level of a metal in the soil, so much as the extractable amount, or the level available for absorption by the plant. As soil pH is raised, the extractable amount of most metals goes down, therefore liming of soil can inhibit uptake of heavy metals. IAREC scientists are conducting ongoing research in the area of plant uptake. In the meantime, Stevens advised growers to avoid old orchard sites, as the lead arsenate used prior to 1947 can still be present in those soils, and to avoid root crops and leafy vegetables when metals absorption is a concern.
Dr. David Bezdicek of WSU Pullman spoke next on "Safe Use of Manure and Compost," discussing composting operations large and small, including those in Pullman and Lewiston, Idaho. He explained the inherent difficulties in the use of farm manure: it is biologically active, with odors and potential for water contamination; it poses a potential health hazard as a source of bacterial and fungal pathogens, viruses, and parasites; it has poor storage properties; and its handling and loading is regulated. Pathogens can be reduced passively, through aging, or actively, through pasteurization, heat drying, and anaerobic or aerobic digestion. Composted product is more stable, less pathogenic, and easier to handle. Dr. Bezdicek discussed Washington State's Department of Ecology interim standards for compost, and offered some general guidelines to gardeners: wait 60 days before using raw manure, never use manure during the growing season, and use properly treated and cured compost. A spirited discussion ensued about safety, with audience members questioning, among other things, what constituted "clean" compost and whether 60 days was a sufficient waiting period for using manure. Consistent recommendations on these matters have not been finalized among all agencies.
Jennifer Tebaldi of Washington
State's Department of Health (WDOH) wrapped up the day with an
enlightening presentation on "Shellfish and Environmental
Contaminants." Echoing a fact we've mentioned many times
in Agrichemical and Environmental News, Tebaldi pointed
out that not all environmental contaminants are caused by humans--many
are naturally present, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus,
PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning), and domoic acid.
Pathogens in shellfish are a particular health concern because
Most shellfish diseases are related to the water in which the shellfish live, not the environment in which they are processed. WDOH looks for contamination point sources (farming, wildlife concentration, marinas, human sewage) when considering approval of a shellfish harvest area. Non-point sources are also considered, as are tidal and meteorological conditions. WDOH performs extensive monitoring and testing of sites, and informs the public of conditions, restrictions, and closures. Tebaldi suggested that consumers who enjoy raw shellfish would be prudent to do so during winter months, when fewer pathogens are active.
Day two's morning session "Safety of Retail Products," chaired by WSU's Dr. Richard Dougherty, opened with a presentation by Dr. Terry Dockerty of the National Cattleman's Beef Association on "Meat Products at Retail." Dr. Dockerty reviewed the safety steps to which meat products are subjected before reaching the retail level: inspection by USDA, interventions at the processing level (e.g., hot water or organic acid rinse, chemical dehairing, steam vacuuming, steam pasteurizing, irradiation), and vacuum packaging. Yet many questions remain at the retail level: How stable is the product? How educated are the retail handlers? How inclusive are inspection percentages? Do we need HACCP in retail stores? If so, mandatory or voluntary? Retailers are balancing profit margins with safety, creating an inherent conflict. New types of in-store merchandising (on-site marinating, aging, smoking) create additional hazard potential. The presentation ended with an explanation of current industry safety initiatives.
Janet Anderberg from
WDOH offered a lively presentation on "Action in the Deli
Case." She discussed the evolution of the grocery store,
progressing from an average of 300 items in the 1950s to over
300,000 in today's market. In-store deli offerings have evolved
from sliced meats and cheeses to a full array of "HMRs"
(Home Meal Replacements) and hot and cold foods. With more variety
comes more hazards-more cross-contamination potential, more temperature
and preparation variation. Putting this in perspective, of the
457 foodborne illness outbreaks reported in Washington State from
1995 to 1998, 14 (or 3%) were traced to in-store delis. Anderberg
outlined specific hazards and pathogens, concluding with the good
news that delis can easily apply HACCP concepts and in fact have
a good track record for doing so, taking frequent temperature
readings, minimizing BHC (bare-hand contact) through use of gloves,
and offering good training. The audience also enjoyed Anderberg's
humor, use of props, and occasional photos of her daughters mixed
in with her slide presentation.
WSU's Dr. Sue Butkus relieved the high-tech problems that had plagued Wednesday's presenters by reverting to a low-tech series of overhead transparencies in her talk, "Allergens? In My Food?" About twenty percent of the population have allergies of some type; less than half of these are food allergies. While about sixteen percent of the population believes they have food allergies, experts estimate only seven to ten percent do. (Six to eight percent of children have food allergies, many of which are outgrown, leaving one to two percent of the adult population affected.) About 160 foods have been identified as true allergens, with 90% of reactions caused by milk, wheat, eggs, soybeans, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, crustacea, and shellfish. Many reactions thought to be allergic are not-strawberries, for example, are high in histamines, and lactose intolerance is not an allergy. Once an individual identifies an allergen, he can avoid the food. Then the problem becomes inadvertent exposure-this is where food producers and suppliers come into play. Inadvertent exposure can occur as the result of poor clean-up, incomplete labeling, misformulation, reworking products, and cross-contamination. Those seeking more information can find it online at the website for Food Allergy Resource and Research Program, at http://foodsci.unl.edu/farrp/farrp.htm.
The morning session
ended with a presentation by attorney William D. Marler, whose
office has prosecuted nearly a thousand E. coli 0157 cases. With
a mixture of black humor and pathos, he told stories from his
high-profile case file, including those involving defendants Jack-in-the-Box
and Odwalla. His message was clear: those of us in the business
of bringing food to the public are in the business of food safety,
which is a deadly serious business.
WSU's Dr. Barbara Rasco introduced the afternoon session, "Food Safety Regulations-Benefits, Costs, and Media Impact, which began with Dr. Clark Nardinelli, an economist with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) speaking on "Benefits and Costs of Regulating Food Safety." While Dr. Nardinelli's mandate forbade him speaking on specific analyses underway, he explained that costs (defined as value of resources directed toward increasing safety) are always weighed against benefits (defined as value of health effects resulting from the particular safety increase) when FDA considers a regulation. From a governmental perspective, "cost" and "benefit" are measured in hard dollar terms. Simply stated, does it cost more to implement a regulation or treat an illness and its residual effects? The models into which cost/benefit dollars are plugged are not concerned with who pays which costs-just the costs themselves, objectively stated. Dr. Nardinelli discussed examples of regulations on iron supplements, seafood, and non-heat-treated fruit and vegetable juices, and stated FDA's intent to improve benefit-cost analyses by improving quality and quantity of data, using models that account for uncertainties, and visiting more food processing sites.
"Impact of Media Coverage on Consumer Risk Perceptions" was presented by WSU's Dr. Jill McCluskey. The gulf between scientifically assessed risk and perceived risk can be wide. The latter affects market demand, and is dramatically influenced by the media. Dr. McCluskey recapped the 1989 Alar scare and the 1996 "mad cow disease" flap. In both cases, facts were distorted and media oversimplification caused a dramatic effect on the associated industries. Using an analysis she had conducted on housing near a lead smelter, Dr. McCluskey demonstrated media's impact on public risk perception.
Dr. Rasco concluded the conference with a discussion of "Food Safety Regulations-Litigant Perspectives and Legal Challenges." Beginning with statistics on the magnitude of foodborne illness in the United States, Dr. Rasco outlined litigant perspectives, shedding light on such phrases as "reasonable expectation" and "fit for consumption" as applicable to food safety. Hazards associated with food can be physical, chemical, or pathological, and product liability applies to the manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, and retailer. Potential penalties for both civil and criminal suits were outlined. Dr. Rasco pointed out that food processors are held to a higher standard than the general public. When a processor gets sued, it will help its case to have HACCP controls in place, excellent records, and no violations. The presentation concluded with compelling numbers showing how much less costly it is to institute preventative measures than to bear the many costs associated with a lawsuit.
For contact information on any of the speakers at this year's Food Safety Farm to Table Conference, contact conference chair Dr. Richard Dougherty at (509) 335-0972 or dougherty@wsu.edu. General questions about food safety may be addressed to Dr. Dougherty or Dr. Virginia (Val) Hillers, (509) 335-2970 or hillersv@wsu.edu.
This article was prepared by AENews editor Sally O'Neal Coates, who can
be reached in the WSU Tri-Cities Pesticide Information Center,
at (509) 372-7378 or scoates@tricity.wsu.edu.
Dear Readers:
In reading the June 4, 1999, issue of the Capital Press, I came across the following guest column by Terry Witt, Executive Director of Oregonians for Food & Shelter out of Salem, Oregon. It is reproduced in its entirety. I think perhaps I've found a long-lost cousin in this anonymous Internet author.
Aggie
June 4, 1999, Capital Press · Reprinted by permissionOrganic dentist's reasoning flawedIf you are connected to the Internet, you likely have seen various "chat rooms" where you can find discussions on just about any topic from appendectomies to why zebras have stripes. The following is a real Internet message from a large apple grower in Michigan. It was written in response to comments made by a dentist from Connecticut (and an organic hobby orchardist) who previously questioned the safety of corporate farm practices, especially the use of pesticides to grow food.
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4th PNW Pesticide Issues Conference"Threatened & Endangered Species: Pesticide Science, Issues and Policy"October 19, 1999
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The Pesticide Information Center On-Line (PICOL) website (http://picol.cahe.wsu.edu) is now hosting a web page for the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Organic Food Program. The page provides detailed information on organic certification and crop production standards, including approved materials (by brand and category), residue standards, application process, resources, and contacts.
The WSDA has certified organic farms since 1988. Its Organic Food Program (OFP) protects consumers and supports the organic food industry by ensuring the integrity of organic food products through establishing organic standards and certifying organic producers, processors, and handlers. The OFP provides technical information about organic food production and assists in the development of markets for the organic food industry.
Those interested in finding out more can call the WSDA at (360) 902-1877, fax them at (360) 902-2087, or e-mail sshillander@agr.wa.gov. But check the web page first-you'll find many answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Washington Pest Consultants Association organizes an annual series of collection dates and sites for empty pesticide containers. Dates and locations are subject to change; confirm with a telephone call to the number listed in the table before participating. For general questions, or if you are interested in hosting an event at your farm, business, or in a central location in your area, contact Clarke Brown at (509) 965-6809 or Roger Ours at (509) 930-6950.
CONTAINERS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
DATE |
TIME |
LOCATION |
CONTACT |
PHONE# |
OTHER |
Eastern Washington - AUGUST |
|||||
| 8/2 | 8 am to 10 am | Cenex, Almira | Scott Winona | 509-632-5645 | 509-641-0611 Cell |
| 11 am to 1 pm | Wilbur Airport | Greg Leyva | 509-647-2241 | ||
| Dennis Buddrius | 509-647-5394 | ||||
| 2 pm to Finish | Davenport Airport | Lee Swain | 509-725-0011 | ||
| 8/3 | 8 am to 10 am | Westerm Farm Serv.Harrington | Jim Hurst | 509-253-4311 | |
| 1 pm to 3 pm | McGregor's St. John | Rick Bafus | 509-648-3218 | ||
| 8/4 | 8 am to 10 am | McGregor's Colfax | Joel Fields | 509-397-4691 | |
| 12 pm to 2 pm | Cascade Flying Service Garfield | Doran Rogers | 509-635-1212 | ||
| 3 pm to Finish | Dale's Flying Service, Palouse | Dale Schoepflin | 509-878-1531 | ||
| 8/5 | 8 am to 10 am | McGregor's Pullman | Larry Schlenker | 509-332-2551 | |
| 12 pm to 3 pm | Valley Helo Service, Clarkston | James D. Pope | 509-758-1900 | ||
| 8/6 | 8 am to 10 am | Western Farm Service, Pomeroy | Jerry Wilsey | 509-843-3491 | |
| 12 pm to 2 pm | McGregor's Waitsburg | Terry Jacoy | 509-297-4296 | ||
| 8/9 | 8 am to 11 am | Wilbur Ellis, Eltopia | Vern Record | 509-297-4291 | |
| 12 pm to 2 pm | Pfister Crop Care | Steve Pfister | 509-297-4304 | ||
| 3 pm to Finish | Air Trac, Pasco | Gerald Titus | 509-547-5301 | ||
| 8/10 | 8 am to 10 am | Eastern WA Spraying Service,Eltopia | Willis Maxson | 509-2974387 | |
| 11 am to 2 pm | B & R Aerial Crop Care, Connell | Chris Eskildsen | 509-234-7791 | ||
| 3 pm to Finish | B & R Ag. Chemical, Othello | Larry Hawley | 509-488-6576 | ||
| 8/11 | 8 am to Noon | Othello Airport | Mark Conner | 509-488-2921 | |
| 1 pm to 4 pm | Moses Lake Air Service | Perry Davis | 509-765-7689 | ||
| 8/12 | 8 am to 12 pm | Wilbur Ellis, Quincy | Dale Martin | 509-787-4433 | |
| 1 am to 3 pm | Quincy Flying Service | Richard Weaver | 509-787-3223 | ||
| 4 pm to Finish | The Crop Duster, Ephrata | Martin Shaw | 509-754-3461 | ||
| 8/13 | 8am to 10 pm | Cenex, Royal City | Jerry Wolfkill | 509-346-2213 | |
| 11 am to1 pm | Saddle Mountain, Royal City | Mike Pack | 509-346-2291 | ||
| 2 pm to 4 pm | Wilbur-Ellis, Mattawa | Al Hilliker | 509-932-4988 | ||
| 8/20 | 8 am to Noon | Dept. of Transportation, Ellensburg | Suzanne Tarr | 509-962-7577 | |
| 8/20 | 8 am to 11 am | Western Farm Serv. Toppenish | Randy King | 509-865-2045 | |
DATE |
TIME |
LOCATION |
CONTACT |
PHONE# |
OTHER |
Eastern Washington - SEPTEMBER |
|||||
| 9/1 | 8 am to 10 am | NW Wholesale, Chelan | Herb Teas | 509-662-2141 | |
| 11 am to 2 pm | NW Wholesale, Orondo | 509-662-2141 | |||
| 9/2 | 8 am to Noon | Wenatchee Treefruit Station | Dale Goldy | 509-884-0711 | |
| 9/13 | 8 am to 10 am | Simplot, Bruce Dealer, Othello | Mikke Garza | 509-488-2132 | |
| 11 am to Finish | Kilmer Crop Dusting, Warden | Terry Kilmer | 509-349-2491 | 509-760-0081 Cell | |
Western Washington - SEPTEMBER |
|||||
| 9/20 | 1 pm to 3 pm | Washington Tree Service | Ron Angel | 206-362-9100 | 20057 Ballinger Rd. NE, Seattle |
| 9/21 | 8 am to Noon | Skagit Co. Transfer Station | Robin LaRue | 360-336-9400 | |
| 1 pm to 3 pm | Tronsdal Air Service | Kevin Tronsdal | 360-757-0333 | Entrance to Farm to Market Road | |
| 9/22 | 8 am to Noon | Port Orchard - Olympic View | Niels Nicolaisen | 360-337-5781 | Ind'l Park, 5551 SW Imperial Way |
| 9/23 | 8 am to Noon | WA State DOT & Permit Office | Randy Knutson | 253-351-6591 | 11211 - 41st Ave. SW, Tacoma |
| Dave Patterson | 253-589-7255 | ||||
| 9/24 | 8 am to Noon | Centralia Transfer Station | John Prigmore | 360-740-1193 | 1411 South Tower |
DATE |
TIME |
LOCATION |
CONTACT |
PHONE# |
OTHER |
Eastern Washington - OCTOBER |
|||||
| 10/13 | 8 am to 3 pm | Othello Airport | Mark Conner | 509-488-2921 | |
| 10/14 | 8 am to 10 am | Western Farm Service, Waterville | John Massey | 509-838-5007 | |
| 12 pm to 2 pm | Western Farm Service,Coulee City | 509-838-5007 | |||
| 3 pm to Finish | The Crop Duster, Ephrata | Martin Shaw | 509-754-3461 | ||
| 10/18 | 8 am to 11 am | Wilbur Airport | Greg Leyva | 509-647-2441 | |
| Dennis Buddrius | 509-647-5394 | ||||
| 1 pm to 4 pm | Davenport Airport | Lee Swain | 509-725-0011 | ||
| 10/19 | 8 am to 12 pm | Western Farm Service, Rosalia | John Massey | 509-838-5007 | |
| 1 pm to 3 pm | McGregor's Colfax | Joel Fields | 509-397-4691 | ||
| 10/20 | 8 am to 10 am | B & R Aerial Crop Care, Connell | Chris Eskildsen | 509-234-7791 | |
| 12 pm to 3 pm | Air Trac, Pasco | Gerald Titus | 509-547-5301 | ||
| 10/25 | 9 am to 3 pm | Snipes Mtn, Transfer Station | Mark Nedrow | 509-574-2472 | Cardboard Accepted |
| 10/26 | 8:30 am to 3 pm | Terrace Hts. Landfill, Yakima | Mark Nedrow | 509-574-2472 | Cardboard Accepted |
| 10/27 | 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Kilmer Crop Dusting, Warden | Terry Kilmer | 509-349-2491 | |
| 10/28 | 9 am to Noon | Tom Dent Aviation, Moses Lake | Tom Dent | 509-765-6926 | |
In reviewing the June postings in the Federal Register, we found the following items that may be of interest to the readers of Agrichemical and Environmental News.
In the June 9 Federal Register, EPA published an interim final rule for establishing a voluntary program to verify that state and private organic certifying agencies comply with the requirements prescribed under ISO Guide 65. (Page 30861)
In the June 16 Federal Register, EPA announced the availability of the revised risk assessments and related documents for two organophosphate pesticides, bensulide and profenofos. These documents are available electronically on URL: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/status.htm. Comments on these documents will be accepted until August 16, 1999. (Page 32229)
In the June 30 Federal Register, EPA announced the availability of the revised risk assessment and related documents for one organophosphate pesticide, sulfotepp. These documents are available electronically on URL: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/status.htm. Comments on these documents will be accepted until August 30, 1999. (Page 35151)
The PNN is operated by WSU's Pesticide Information Center for the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration. The system is designed to distribute pesticide registration and label change information to groups representing Washington's pesticide users. The material below is a summary of the information distributed on the PNN in the past month.
Our office operates a web page called PICOL (Pesticide Information Center On-Line). This provides a label database, status on registrations and other related information. PICOL can be accessed on URL http://picol.cahe.wsu.edu or call our office, (509) 372-7492, for more information.
Nichimen America has revised the label for its Kaligreen Potassium Bicarbonate Soluble Powder. The following crops have been added to the label: root and tuber vegetables, leafy vegetables, legume vegetables, fruiting vegetables, cucurbits, pome fruit, stone fruit, small fruits and berries, cereal grains, herbs and spices, hops, ornamentals, and turf (ornamental lawns, golf courses, and sod farms).
Dow has revised the label for its insecticide Lorsban 15G. Bok choy, broccoli raab, and Chinese broccoli have been added to the list of usage sites. In addition, Dow has issued a supplemental label for the use of Lorsban 15G for the suppression of cutworms, wireworms, and grubs in alfalfa during the establishment phase.
PNN Notification 1998-52 reported that EPA was deleting popcorn and carrot uses from technical grade chlorpyrifos labels because EPA had realized that tolerances had never been established for these uses. In the June 18 Federal Register, EPA announced that, effective immediately, popcorn was being deleted from the labels for MicroFlo's Chlorpyrifos 4# AG and Cheminova's Nufos 15G. The following existing stock provision was included in this notice: "The Agency has authorized the registrants to sell or distribute product under the previously approved labeling for a period of 18 months after the effective date of use deletions." Be aware that while this action allows for the purchase of MicroFlo's Chlorpyrifos 4# AG and Cheminova's Nufos 15G labeled for use on popcorn, no tolerance exists for this use.
In the June 23 Federal Register, EPA announced that it had received a request from Monsanto to delete aerial application use directions from the label for its Partner WDG Herbicide. Unless this request is withdrawn by December 20, 1999, EPA will approve this deletion.
In the June 23 Federal Register, EPA announced that it had received a request from Gowan to delete the following uses from the label for its Endosulfan 3EC: alfalfa grown for forage, safflower, sugarbeet, sunflower, and peas grown for seed. Unless this request is withdrawn by December 20, 1999, EPA will approve these deletions.
In the May 26 Federal Register, EPA announced that it had received a request from Prentiss Inc. to cancel its registrations for Prentox Lindane 20% EC and Prentox 20 Lindane. Unless these requests are withdrawn by November 22, 1999, EPA will issue orders canceling these registrations. The PNN-related usage sites for each product are:
In the May 26 Federal Register, EPA announced that it had received a request from Rohm & Haas to cancel its registration for Kelthane 35. Unless this request is withdrawn by November 22, 1999, EPA will issue orders canceling this registration. Kelthane 35 is labeled for use on the following PNN-related sites: apple, crabapple, cucurbit, flower, grape, greenhouse ornamental, nursery, ornamental, ornamental tree, pear, quince, strawberry, and turf. Rohm & Haas has also requested that SLN WA-900022, which provides for the use of Kelthane 35 on blackberry and raspberry crops, be cancelled.
In the May 26 Federal Register, EPA announced that it had received a request from Platte to cancel its registration for Dicofol 4EC. Unless this request is withdrawn by November 22, 1999, EPA will issue orders canceling this registration. Dicofol 4EC is labeled for use on the following PNN-related sites: apple, bean, crabapple, cucurbit, filbert, flower, grape, hop, mint, nursery, ornamental, pear, pepper, strawberry, tomato, turf, and walnut.
On June 18 EPA granted a specific exemption, 99-WA-44, for the use of Pirimor 50-DF to control aphids on various vegetable seed crops. (A copy of this exemption is available on the web. See URL: http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/~mantone/sect18/1999wsec.html). This exemption provides for the following:
On June 24 EPA issued a Section 18 specific exemption, 99-WA-13, for the use of Novartis' Flint to control powdery mildew on hops. (A copy of this exemption is available on the web. See URL: http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/~mantone/sect18/1999wsec.html). This exemption provides for:
Dow has issued supplemental labels providing for additional uses for several of its products. Each is listed below::
Du Pont has issued supplemental labels for two of its herbicides. These are:
In the June 3 Federal Register, EPA announced that the Agency is soliciting comments on the Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for chlorothalonil. Chlorothalonil is the active ingredient in 96 products currently registered in Washington. These include both products for commercial use as well as those intended for homeowner use. Both the complete RED and the Fact Sheet are available on EPA's web site at the following URL: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/.
The major provisions contained in the RED are:
WSDA has registered Tomen Agro's Elevate 50 WDG for use. This fenhexamid fungicide is labeled for use to control Botrytis diseases on grapes and strawberries.
WSDA has registered BASF's Sovran Fungicide for use. This kresoxim-methyl fungicide is labeled for use on apple, pear, quince, crabapple, oriental pear, and grape.
WSDA has registered American Cyanamid's Imazapic Herbicide Applicators Concentrate. The main label and the associated supplemental label provide directions for use on the following PNN-related sites: CRP lands, turf, and ditch banks.
WSDA has registered Drexel's Diuron DP. This herbicide is labeled for use on the following PNN-related sites: alfalfa, apple, asparagus, barley, birdsfoot trefoil, blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, bulb, dewberry, field corn, gooseberry, grape, grass seed crop, loganberry, mint, oat, pasture, peach, pear, raspberry, red clover, wheat, and youngberry.
WSDA has registered two Aspen Vet Resources insecticides. The products, their active ingredients and labeled usage site are:
WSDA has registered Zeneca's Warrior T Insecticide for use. This product is labeled for use on the following crops: alfalfa, alfalfa seed crop, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage, Chinese mustard, corn seed crop, dry bulb onion, field corn, garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce, popcorn, sorghum, soybean, sunflower, sweet corn, tomato, triticale, and wheat.
WSDA has registered Zeneca's Touchdown 5 Herbicide for use. This product is labeled for use on the following crops: apricot, cherry, chestnut, conservation reserve program, corn seed crop, fallow land, farm building area around, fencerow, field corn, filbert, grape, kiwi nonbearing, nectarine, non-bearing apple, non-bearing apricot, non-bearing asparagus, non-bearing berry, non-bearing cherry, non-bearing cranberry, non-bearing filbert, non-bearing grape, non-bearing nectarine, non-bearing peach, non-bearing pear, non-bearing plum, non-bearing prune, non-bearing walnut, nonbearing ginseng, noncrop agricultural area, orchard floor, peach, plum, popcorn, prune, soybean, and walnut.
WSDA has registered Valent's Distance Insect Growth Regulator. This product is registered for use on the following crops: greenhouse flower, greenhouse ornamental, greenhouse shrub, non-bearing apple, non-bearing apricot, non-bearing cherry, non-bearing crabapple, non-bearing filbert, non-bearing nectarine, non-bearing peach, non-bearing plum, non-bearing prune, non-bearing walnut, ornamental ground cover, shrub, ornamentals, non-bearing chestnut, nonbearing pear, non-bearing quince, and ornamental tree.
WSDA has registered Valent's Select 2EC for use. The product is labeled for use on the following crops and sites: asphalt/cement, building adjacent area, dry bulb onion, fallow land, fencerow, garlic, golf course, greenhouse, industrial site, non-bearing apple, non-bearing berry, non-bearing cherry, non-bearing filbert, non-bearing grape, non-bearing peach, non-bearing pear, non-bearing plum, non-bearing prune, non-bearing strawberry, non-bearing walnut, noncrop non-agricultural area, railroad right-of-way, right-of-way, roadside right-of-way, shallot, soybean, sugarbeet, non-bearing nectarine, non-bearing chestnut, utility right-of-way, and recreation area.
In addition, Valent has issued several supplemental labels and product bulletins to cover:
WSDA has registered Diatect's Multipurpose Insecticide II for use. This product is labeled for use on the following crops and usage sites: agricultural. production building, alfalfa, animal quarters, apple, apricot, artichoke, asparagus, barley, bean, beet, birdsfoot trefoil, blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, broccoli, Brussels sprout, buckwheat, bulb, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cherry, chickpea, Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage, clover, collard, conifer, corn, cowpea, crabapple, cranberry, cropland, cucurbit, currant, dairy building, dandelion, dewberry, dill, eggplant, elderberry, endive, farm building, fennel, filbert, garlic, ginseng, golf course, gooseberry, grape, grass, grass hay, greenhouse bean, greenhouse bulb, greenhouse celery, greenhouse cole crop, greenhouse conifer, greenhouse cucumber, greenhouse endive, greenhouse lettuce, greenhouse ornamental, greenhouse pepper, greenhouse tomato, greenhouse watercress, herb, hop, horseradish, kale, kiwifruits, kohlrabi, lawn, leek, lentil, lettuce, loganberry, millet, mint, mushroom, mushroom house, mustard, nectarine, oat, okra, olallieberry, onion, ornamental, parsley, parsnip, pea, peach, pear, pepper, plum, potato, poultry building/yard, prune, quince, radish, rangeland, raspberry, rhubarb, rose, rutabaga, rye, salsify, sorghum, soybean, spinach, stored fruit and vegetable, stored grain, strawberry, sugarbeet, sunflower, sweet potato, Swiss chard, tomatilo, tomato, triticale, turf, turnip, vetch, walnut, watermelon, wheat, yam, and youngberry.
On June 16 WSDA took two actions regarding an earlier request for a Section 18 exemption for the use of Elevate 50WDG and Switch 62.5WG on strawberries. First, WSDA withdrew the request for the use of Elevate 50WDG because the Section 3 label for this product has been revised and now includes directions for use on strawberries. At the same time WSDA also cancelled the Section 18 crisis exemption that they had previously granted for the use of Switch 62.5WG. When issued, this exemption contained a provision that the exemption would expire as soon as Elevate became available for use. Elevate is now available therefore the crisis exemption for the use of Switch on strawberries has expired.
On May 21 WSDA issued an SLN, WA-990023, for the use of Novartis' Dual Magnum Herbicide to control yellow nutsedge, grass, and broadleaf weeds in dry bulb onions. This SLN expires 12/31/04.
WSDA has issued the following SLNs for insecticide use on hybrid poplars grown for pulp:
On June 6 WSDA issued an SLN, WA-990026, to Uniroyal for the use of its insect growth regulator Dimilin 2L, to control grasshoppers and Mormon crickets on rangeland and non-crop areas. This SLN expires 12/31/03.
On June 17 WSDA issued an SLN, WA-990027, to Dow AgroSciences for the use of its herbicide Starane to control bedstraw in grass seed crops. This SLN expires 12/31/99.
WSDA has cancelled SLN WA-980024. This SLN was previously issued to provide for preharvest use of BASF's Clarity Herbicide on wheat. The cancellation was requested by BASF because this use has been added to the Section 3 label.
On June 2 WSDA issued a letter canceling SLN WA-900035. This SLN had previously been issued to Novartis for the use of its fungicide Apron 35SD to control downy mildew and some soil borne diseases on pea seed grown for export. The SLN is being cancelled at the request of Novartis because the company no longer markets this product.
WSDA has issued a revision to SLN WA-980025. This SLN, previously issued for the use of Platte's Supreme Oil on hops, has had the expiration date revised to 12/31/04.
On May 21 WSDA issued revisions to two SLNs: WA-980017 and WA-980012. These SLN had previously been issued to Drexel for the use of its Endosulfan 3EC for: Chemigation use on potatoes (WA-980017) and for use to control spotted alfalfa aphid in alfalfa seed crops (WA-980012). Both SLNs have had an aquatic toxicity statement added and the expiration date changed to 12/31/04.
On May 21 WSDA issued a revision to SLN WA-890011. This SLN had previously been issued to Drexel for the use of its Diuron 4L for weed control in established perennial bluegrass grown for seed. The revision changes the expiration date to 12/31/04.
WSDA has revised two SLNs. SLN WA-950032, previously issued to MicroFlo for the use of Endosulfan 3EC on canola has had a 12/31/03 expiration date added to the label. SLN WA-950033 for the use of Novartis' Tilt on grasses grown for seed has had a 12/31/04 expiration date added.
On May 26 WSDA issued a revision to SLN WA-960006. This SLN had previously been issued to Elf Atochem for the use of Aquathol K Aquatic Herbicide to control Eurasian milfoil on quiescent or moving water. The revisions include changing the expiration date to 12/31/03.
On June 10 WSDA issued a revision to SLN WA-980028. This SLN had previously been issued to MicroFlo for the use of its Endosulfan 3EC on potatoes to control Colorado potato beetle, armyworms, and aphids. The revision adds an aquatic toxicity statement and changes the expiration date to 12/31/03.
On June 10 WSDA issued a revision to SLN WA-980027. This SLN had previously been issued to MicroFlo for the use of its Endosulfan 3EC on alfalfa seed crops to control spotted alfalfa aphid. The revision changes the use rate, adds an aquatic toxicity statement, and changes the expiration date to 12/31/03.
On June 10 WSDA issued a revision to SLN WA-990015. This SLN had previously been issued to Dow for the use of its Lorsban 4E on perennial grass seed crops to control billbugs, cutworms, and aphids. The revisions include limiting the usage to the establishment year only, prohibiting any use of the treated crop for animal feed, and restricting the harvest to 365 days after the application. These changes are intended to make the crop a "nonfood/nonfeed" crop (for the purpose of this SLN only) so that no chlorpyrifos tolerance is required for this use.
On June 4, responding to a request made by MicroFlo, WSDA issued correspondence immediately canceling the registration for MicroFlo's insecticide Azinphosmethyl 50W. The cancellation requires that dealers/distributors immediately stop selling MicroFlo's Azinphosmethyl 50W (EPA registration number 51036-164). This product is currently labeled for use on the following PNN-related sites: apple, apricot, artichoke, barley, bean, blackberry, boysenberry, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cherry, Chinese cabbage, Christmas tree plantation, crabapple, cranberry, cucumber, deciduous/shade tree, eggplant, filbert, forest-related sites, grape, loganberry, melon, nectarine, nursery, oat, onion, ornamental, peach, pear, pepper, plum, potato, prune, quince, raspberry, rye, soybean, spinach, strawberry, tomato, walnut, and wheat.
The cancellation is in response to recent discussions among EPA, industry, and public interest groups regarding azinphos methyl. As a result, an agreement has been reached to convert all azinphos methyl products to water-soluble bags and to relabel existing water-soluble bag formulations with additional worker risk mitigation language. MicroFlo is immediately implementing these measures by recalling all existing MicroFlo azinphos methyl products currently in the channels of trade. To this end MicroFlo is asking all distributors to:
In addition, MicroFlo has just finished registering its water-soluble
formulation, Azinphosmethyl 50W Soluble (EPA registration number
51036-164) in Washington. This product is intended to replace
not only the Azinphosmethyl 50W but also the other water-soluble
formulation, Azinphosmethyl 50W Soluble (EPA registration number
51036-205) that carries outdated labeling and is in discontinuance.
The new Azinphosmethyl 50W Soluble is labeled for use on essentially
the same list of crops and usage sites given above.
Tolerance Information |
||||||
| Chemical (type) | Federal Register | Tolerance (ppm) | Commodity (raw) |
Time-Limited |
||
| Yes/No | New/Extension | Expiration Date | ||||
| difenoconazole (fungicide) | 6/2/99 page 29581 | 0.05 | eggs | No | N/A | N/A |
| 0.1 | wheat; grain, straw, and forage | |||||
| 0.01 | milk | |||||
| 0.05 | fat, meat, and mbp of cattle, goats, hogs, horses, poultry, and sheep | |||||
| kresoxim-methyl (fungicide) | 6/10/99 page 31129 | 0.5 | pome fruit | No | N/A | N/A |
| 1 | grapes | |||||
| 0.15 | pecans | |||||
| 1 | apple pomace | |||||
| 1.5 | raisins | |||||
| 0.01 | mbp of cattle, sheep, and goats | |||||
| cytokinins, auxins, gibberellins, ethylene, and pelargonic acid (plant regulator) | 6/11/1999 page 31501 | exempt | see comment | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Comment: This exemption applies when these ingredients are used as plant regulators and applied to plants, seeds, or cuttings and on all food commodities after harvest. It does not apply to residues of these substances that are intended to be produced and used in living plants. | ||||||
|
sulfosate (herbicide)
sulfosate (herbicide) |
6/11/99 page 31505
6/11/99 page 31505 |
1300* | aspirated grain fractions |
No
No |
N/A
N/A |
N/A
N/A |
| 0.5* | fat of cattle, goats, hogs, horses and sheep | |||||
| 6 | kidney of cattle, goats, hogs, horses and sheep | |||||
| 1.5 | mbp (except kidney) of cattle, goats, hogs, horses and sheep | |||||
| 1* | meat of cattle, goats, hogs, horses and sheep | |||||
| 0.1 | mbp of poultry | |||||
| 1.5* | milk | |||||
| 1* | eggs | |||||
| 45* | soybean hulls | |||||
| 21* | soybean seed | |||||
| Comment: Asterisks mark tolerances which are being increased in this action. | ||||||
| sethoxydim (herbicide) | 6/16/99 page 32189 | 4 | asparagus | No | N/A | N/A |
| 1 | carrot | |||||
| 2 | cranberry | |||||
| 4 | horseradish | |||||
| 30 | peppermint and spearmint tops | |||||
| hydrogen peroxide | 6/21/99 page 33022 | exempt | See comment | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Comment: This exemption applies when to all food commodities when hydrogen peroxide is applied/used as an algaecide, fungicide, and bactericide at the rate of < 1% hydrogen peroxide per application on growing crops (all food commodities) and postharvest potatoes. | ||||||
| cyprodinil (fungicide) | 6/30/99 page 35032 | 10 | caneberries | Yes | New | 12/31/00 |
| Comment: This time-limited tolerance is being established in response to EPA granting an emergency exemption for the use of cyprodinil to control gray mold on Washington and Oregon caneberries. | ||||||
| fludioxonil (fungicide) | 6/30/99 page 35037 | 5 | caneberries | Yes | New | 12/31/00 |
| Comment: This time-limited tolerance is being established in response to EPA granting an emergency exemption for the use of cyprodinil to control gray mold on Washington and Oregon caneberries. | ||||||
| fludioxonil (fungicide) | 6/30/99 page 35070 | 0.05 | flax seed | No | N/A | N/A |
| 0.01 | safflower seed | |||||
|
bifenthrin (insecticide)
bifenthrin (insecticide) |
6/30/99 page 35051
6/30/99 page 35051 |
4 | cabbage |
No
No |
N/A
N/A |
N/A
N/A |
| 1 | globe artichoke | |||||
| 0.6 | brassica; head and stem subgroup, excluding cabbage | |||||
| 3 | corn, forage | |||||
| 0.05 | sweet corn, kernel plus cob with husk removed | |||||
| 0.05 | eggplant | |||||
| 0.05 | pea and bean, succulent shelled subgroup | |||||
| 0.05 | rapeseed | |||||
| 0.4 | cucurbit crop group | |||||
| 0.6 | legume, edible, podded subgroup | |||||
| cyfluthrin (insecticide) | 6/30/99 page 35058 | 0.01 | potatoes | No | N/A | N/A |
| 0.01 | corn; grain, forage, fodder, field and pop | |||||
| 0.05 | corn; sweet (K+CWHR) | |||||
| 15 | corn; sweet, fodder | |||||
| 30 | corn; sweet, forage | |||||
| paraquat (herbicide) | 6/30/99 page 35067 | 0.3 | dry peas | Yes | Extension | 11/15/01 |
| Comment: This time-limited tolerance is being extended in response to EPA again granting emergency exemptions for the use of paraquat to desiccate weeds in pea seed and dry peas grown in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. | ||||||
