05-22-1998 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Table t Categori«s of Toxicity Categories of Acute Toxicity Required on LOw l0«LC« Categories the Label Oral mg/kg Dermal mg/kg Inhalation mg/1 1 — Highly Toxic DANGER — Skull and crossbones POISON 0 thru 50 0 thru 200 0 thru 0.2 II — Moderately Toxic WARNING from 50 thru 500 from 2(X) thru 2.000 from 0.2 thru 2 III —Slightly Toxic CAUTION from 500 thru 5.000 from 2,000 thru 20.000 from 2.0 thru 20 IV - Relatively Non-toxic CAUTION greater than 5,000 greater than 20,000 greater than 20 Adapted from 40 Cmtoo/Fadafa/H#9«ilaftona162.10(h}(1) Diazinon Particular lawn care pesticides have been criticized recently due to alleged health hazards. The insecticide diazinon was linked to the death of 700 geese at a Long Island, New Ybrk golf course. The same pesticide reportedly caused human illness at an apartment com plex in Fife. Washington. In both cases the insecticide may not have been applied according to label instruc tions by not being "watered-in ’* properly. Because of ^^“S^ances like these. ERA proposed a ban on golf ^ \rse and sod farm use of the insecticide.*' 2,4-D The association of the herbicide 2.4-dichlorophen- oxyacetic acid (2.4-D) with non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), a type of lymphatic cancer, has beer, examined through various epidemiologic (population) studies of agricultural workers.**"* Despite many prior studies of cancer risks associated with agriculture.*' there is still no explanation for the higher rates of NHL incidence for agricultural .occupations than found in the general United States population. Each year about 7.000 to 8.0CX) new NHL cases are diagnosed. Although the cause of NHL is not yet proved, there is substantial evi dence that it is viral in origin.** Based on the result of one recent study.** ERA notified all registrants of 2.4-0 products that it was "considering initiating a Special Review" for these pesticides accord ing to FIFRA regulations (40 Code of Federal Regula tions part 154.7). The agency said the study appeared well designed and its "conclusions are supported by the data."** However, one of the conclusions was that excess NHL was "associated with the use of phenoxy- acetic acid herbicides." specifically 2.4-0.** yet data col lected directly from subjects or next of kin concerned ^ e number of days per year and years duration of /rbic/de use. not 2.4-0 specifically. As such, the study - Combines 2.4-0 use with that of other herbicides like triazines. amides, trifluralin. and "non specified" prod ucts. Chlorothalonil The turf fungicide chlorothalonil (Oaconil 2787») has tentatively been linked to the September 1982 death of a 30-year-old Navy lieutenant. He was presumably in good health, but after three days of playing goif at a course near his Arlington, Virginia home he became ill. Less than two weeks after entering the hospital, he died of a heart attack. His affliction was diagnosed as toxic epidermal necrolysis (scalded skin syndrome), a serious disease with symptoms resembling a second degree burn: loos ening and peeling of large areas of the skin with swelling and extreme tenderness About 20 percent of patients die from the disease, but in cases of sudden, spontane ous (probably idiopathic) origin like this, the mortality rate is 50 percent.** The fungicide chlorothalonil had been sprayed on the golf course and. according to the Navy, residues of the fungicide were detected on the lieutenant ’s shoes and golf ball. The Navy pathologist ’s report concluded that the fungicide was responsible for triggering the disease. Various orescription drugs have been suggested as causing the disease but "no one has provided any direct immunologic evider^ce for drug allergy."** Bacterial infections, rather than drugs, are related to most cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis, and pesticide allergy had not been suggested before as a cause of the disease. The Dacoml 2787* label notes that the product may "produce temporary allergic effects" in applicators, but the lieutenant ’s illness was far more severe. A thorough investigation of this case could pro vide information to confirm or refute the link to the fungi cide application: however, a "wrongful death" lawsuit by his widow against the country club and the fungicide manufacturer has made such an investigation difficult. Pesticide critics and defenders alike agree that this case IS a very unusual one. but determining whether and. if CO. how the fungicide caused toxic epidermal necrolysis would take some considerable time and effort. The manufacturer denies any connection between the fungi-