North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[JOHN_MOSKO@ENGELHARD.COM]

This was sent to me and I thought the Nafex group might be interested in
the details of the Lorsban (chlorpyrifos) ruling on the attached pdf file.
It looks like post-bloom applications are out on apples.  Isn't
chlorpyrofos most commonly used pre-bloom anyway?  Maybe some entomologists
can comment.

John Mosko
Engelhard Corp.

(See attached file: DursbanAgreementDetail.pdf)

Also, here is the press release:

 CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION ACTS TO ELIMINATE MAJOR USES OF THE
   PESTICIDE DURSBAN TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND PUBLIC HEALTH

To protect the health and environment of all Americans, especially
children, the Clinton-Gore Administration today announced that the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the manufacturer of Dursban
have agreed to eliminate the widely used pesticide for nearly all
household purposes.  Dursban, also known as chlorpyrifos, is the most
widely used household pesticide product in the United States.  Today's
action will also significantly reduce residues of chlorpyrifos on
several foods regularly eaten by children.
     "Today's action is a major step in the Clinton-Gore
Administration's on-going efforts to  better protect public health,
especially the health of children," said EPA Administrator Carol M.
Browner.  "Chlorpyrifos is part of a class of older, riskier
pesticides, some going back 50 years.  Exposure to these kinds of
pesticides can cause neurological effects.  Now that we have completed
the most extensive scientific evaluation ever conducted on the
potential health hazards from a pesticide, it is clear the time has
come to take action to protect our children from exposure to this
chemical."

     Chlorpyrifos is an ingredient used for a broad range of  lawn and
home insecticide products, for agricultural purposes and for termite
treatment.

The agreement announced today will:

 Stop production of and phase-out all home, lawn, and garden uses;
 Stop production of and phase-out the vast majority of termite-control
 uses;
 Significantly lower allowable pesticide residues on several foods
 regularly eaten by children.

     EPA is taking this action under the Food Quality Protection Act
(FQPA), which was passed unanimously by Congress under the leadership
of the Clinton Administration and signed by the President in 1996.
The FQPA requires a systematic review of all pesticides to ensure they
meet the tough new safety standards that, for the first time, must be
protective of children, who are among the most vulnerable to adverse
health effects from pesticide residues.

     Last August, the Clinton-Gore Administration announced action
against methyl parathion and azinphos methyl to protect children from
pesticide residues in food.  Today's action is the next step in
realizing the protections for families and communities under the Food
Quality Protection Act.

     Specifically, today's agreement will halt manufacture of
chlorpyrifos by December 2000 for  nearly all residential uses.  It
will require that virtually all of those residential uses be deleted
from existing product labels prior to that time, including uses for
home and garden sprays, uses to control termites in completed houses
and uses on lawns.

     This agreement also mandates that all uses will be phased out
this year in areas where children could be exposed, including schools,
daycare centers, parks, recreation areas, hospitals, nursing homes,
stores and malls.

     By the end of 2001, uses to control termites in buildings other
than homes or areas where children could be exposed will be phased-out
as well.  By the end of 2004, the termiticide use on new construction
will also be phased-out unless new information becomes available which
show that this use could safely continue.

     Today's action also calls for canceling or significantly lowering
allowable residues for several foods regularly eaten by children, such
as tomatoes, apples and grapes.  These actions will be taken by the
beginning of the next growing season.

     Chlorpyrifos belongs to a family of pesticides called
organophosphates which can affect the nervous system.  The effects
from chlorpyrifos exposure vary depending on the dose, but symptoms of
over-exposure can include nausea, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea and
general weakness.  Because of their smaller body weights, children are
more susceptible to these effects. Children can be exposed to
chlorpyrifos through food residues, by playing in areas where
chlorpyrifos has been used as a home-and-garden insecticide, or from
inhalation of vapors when chlorpyrifos is used to control termites

     Chlorpyrifos, also known as Dursban, Lorsban and other trade
names, is one of the most widely used organophosphate insecticides in
the United States, with more than 20 million pounds applied annually.
Approximately 50 percent is used around homes, gardens, and lawns to
control a variety of insects, including termites.  The remaining 50
percent is used on 40 different agricultural crops.  Dow AgroSciences
of Indianapolis is the primary registrant.  There are approximately
825 registered products.

     EPA advises consumers that short-term use of these products
according to label instructions does not pose an imminent risk.  If
consumers choose to discontinue use immediately, they should contact
their state or local hazardous material disposal program for
information on proper disposal.  Additional information about
chlorpyrifos and today's action can be found on the EPA web site at:
www.epa.gov/pesticides.

end.





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Attachment: DursbanAgreementDetail.pdf
Description: Adobe Portable Document