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Methyl Bromide Alternatives
Both chemical and non-chemical alternatives to methyl bromide exist, and several pest control tools can manage the pests currently controlled with methyl bromide. Research on alternatives continues and EPA continues to prioritize the registration of alternatives to methyl bromide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service has also conducted research on alternatives to methyl bromide.
Some primary alternatives for the following sectors are as follows:
| Use Category | Alternatives Available | Status of Registration | Alternatives Under Development | Possible Date of Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commodities | Propylene Oxide | Registered | Ethyl Formate | Not registered |
| Phosphine | Registered | Ethylene Oxide | Not registered | |
| Sulfuryl Fluoride | Registered | Methyl Formate | Not registered | |
| Cucurbits | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Furfural | Not registered |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Dimethyl Disulfide | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Glyphosate | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Halosulfuron | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Paraquat | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Eggplant | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Furfural | Not registered |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Dimethyl Disulfide | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Halosulfuron | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Napropamide | Registered | |||
| Trifluralin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Napropamide + Trifluralin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Food Facilities | Phosphine | Registered | Ethyl Formate | Not registered |
| Sulfuryl Fluoride | Registered | Ethylene Oxide | Not registered | |
| Methyl Formate | Not registered | |||
| Forest Seedlings | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Dazomet | Registered | |||
| Dimethyl Disulfide | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Ham | Sulfuryl Fluoride | Registered | ||
| Nurseries: Raspberries | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Dimethyl Disulfide | Not registered |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Dazomet | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Nurseries: Fruit and Nut Tree | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Dimethyl Disulfide | Not registered |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Dazomet | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Pic + Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Dazomet | Registered | |||
| Nurseries: Roses | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Dimethyl Disulfide | Not registered |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Dazomet | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin + Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Orchard Replant | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Dimethyl Disulfide | Not registered |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Dazomet | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Sodium Tetrathiocarbonate | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin + Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Ornamentals | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Furfural | Not registered |
| Dazomet | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Dimethyl Disulfide | Registered | Potassium Tri-iodide | Not registered | |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Dazomet + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Peppers | Metam Sodium | Registered | Furfural | Not registered |
| 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Dimethyl Disulfide | Registered | |||
| Halosulfuron | Registered | |||
| Glyphosate | Registered | |||
| Paraquat | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Post-Harvest Uses | Phosphine | Registered | Ethyl Formate | Not registered |
| Sulfuryl Fluoride* | Registered | Ethylene Oxide | Not registered | |
| Methyl Formate | Not registered | |||
| Strawberry | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Furfural | Not registered |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Dazomet** | Registered | |||
| Dimethyl Disulfide | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Terbacil | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin + Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Strawberry Nursery | Chloropicrin | Registered | Dimethyl Disulfide | Not registered |
| 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Furfural | Not registered | |
| Metam Sodium | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Sodium Azide | Not registered | |||
| Tomato | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Furfural | Not registered |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | Pebulate | No longer registered | |
| Dazomet** | Registered | Propargyl Bromide | Not registered | |
| Dimethyl Disulfide | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Fosthiazate | Registered | |||
| Glyphosate | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Paraquat | Registered | |||
| Halosulfuron-methyl | Registered | |||
| s-Metolachlor | Registered | |||
| Trifloxysulfuron-methyl | Registered | |||
| Rimsulfuron | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| 1,3-Dichloropropene + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Turf (sod) | 1,3-Dichloropropene | Registered | Dimethyl Disulfide | Not registered |
| Chloropicrin | Registered | Sodium Azide | Not registered | |
| Furfural | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium | Registered | |||
| Dazomet | Registered | |||
| Dazomet + Chloropicrin | Registered | |||
| Metam Sodium + Chloropicrin | Registered |
*Research on-going to evaluate efficacy in controlling mites
**The registration for Dazomet is limited to California only.
In some situations involving small-scale production, there are non-chemical alternatives to methyl bromide. For example, steam sterilization of soil is a viable alternative for the use of chemical fumigants in some soil types. In the post-harvest sectors, sanitation and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques are used to manage pest populations and extend the time between chemical fumigations. Pheromone traps, electrocution traps, and light traps are also used to monitor pest populations.
OTHER INFORMATION
Annual Methyl Bromide Alternatives Outreach (MBAO) Conference
Additional information about alternatives to methyl bromide as they relate to individual sectors can be found in the annual U.S. Nomination submission. Between 1995 and 1997, EPA published Case Studies about alternatives to methyl bromide. For copies of these Case Studies, please call the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Hotline at 1-800-296-1996.