美国环境保护署 (EPA) 周五表示，它正在征求关于对儿童和其他旁观者因处理过的农作物中毒死蜱挥发而造成的潜在风险的初步评估的意见。
毒死蜱是一种广泛使用的有机磷杀虫剂，由陶氏公司生产，并以 Dursban 和 Lorsban 的名称出售。它通过抑制乙酰胆碱酯酶作用于昆虫的神经系统。
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.”
根据 毒死蜱初步挥发性评估 , 评论者指南 , 相关文档可在 docket 中找到 EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0850 在 www.regulations.gov.