La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA) dijo el viernes que solicita comentarios sobre una evaluación preliminar de los riesgos potenciales para los niños y otros transeúntes por la volatilización de clorpirifos de cultivos tratados.
El clorpirifos, un insecticida organofosforado ampliamente utilizado, es fabricado por Dow y vendido bajo los nombres de Dursban y Lorsban. Actúa sobre el sistema nervioso de los insectos inhibiendo la acetilcolinesterasa.
If EPA’s final review of the crop protection chemical identifies risks similar to those found in its preliminary evaluation, it may “take action to reduce bystander risks” – suggesting that it could significantly increase buffer zones.
“While there are uncertainties associated with EPA’s preliminary assessment, the available data indicate that vapor phase chlorpyrifos may be emitted from treated fields at levels resulting in exposure to children and others who live, work, attend school or otherwise spend time nearby,” EPA said. “In some circumstances, these bystanders may be exposed to chlorpyrifos and/or the transformation product chlorpyrifos-oxon at concentrations that could cause adverse effects.”
Asked to comment on the move, Dow AgroSciences said the “highly precautionary conclusions in EPA’s preliminary assessment are driven by many uncertainties and unresolved areas of regulatory policy.”
The Indianapolis, Indiana-based company noted: “Dow AgroSciences and other stakeholders will be submitting detailed technical comments on EPA’s assessment, and we believe that additional refinement will further demonstrate that existing label directions for chlorpyrifos use are already highly protective…Every product lost to over-estimated risks takes away crop protection tools growers need to maintain productivity, for defense against insect resistance and for maintenance of existing integrated pest management programs.”
Dow called on EPA to expand the comment period from 30 to 90 days, and encouraged other agricultural stakeholders to make a similar request, as “regulatory precedents set in this area will likely affect assessments and volatility-based restrictions on other products in the future.”
El evaluación preliminar de la volatilidad del clorpirifos , guía para comentaristas , y los documentos relacionados están disponibles en el expediente EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0850 a www.regulations.gov.