US EPA to boost 8 pesticide compounds to higher toxicity

12 March 2002 22:21  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (CNI)--The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Tuesday it plans to reclassify eight inert ingredients used in pesticide product formulations from "potentially toxic" to "of toxicological concern."

EPA said it decided to reclassify the chemicals after tests conducted by the National Toxicology Program showed they cause cancer in laboratory animals.

As a result, the agency said the ingredients must be disclosed on product labels and more extensive data on the chemicals will be required from manufacturers.

Label disclosure will be required after a final notice on the reclassification is published after a public comment period ends on 7 May, according to EPA.

The inert ingredients are: 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol, 2-butoxyethanol (ethylene glycol monobutyl ether), butyl benzyl phthalate, diethanolamine, ethylbenzene, 1,2-epoxybutane (butene oxide), 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, and nitromethane.

EPA said it would also reclassify another inert, rhodamine B, from "of toxicological concern" to the list of ingredients that will not adversely affect public health or the environment.

The agency said it has been determined that when used as a dye in seed treatment, rhodamine B is not likely to cause food or feed residues.

By: Glenn Hess
+1 713 525 2653

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