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Risk Mitigation Comments Requested for 2,4-D
In a Federal Register notice published on January 12, 2005, EPA announced the availability of its revised risk assessments and preliminary risk reduction options for the herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or 2,4-D. During a 60-day comment period closing March 14, 2005, the public is encouraged to suggest additional risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. The widely used phenoxy herbicide 2,4-D helps to control a variety of broadleaf weeds in agricultural, forestry, aquatic, and residential/turf settings. EPA is providing an opportunity for interested parties to provide risk management proposals or otherwise comment on risk management for 2,4-D, considering the preliminary risk reduction options detailed in the Agency’s “2,4-D Reregistration; Preliminary Risk Mitigation Proposals.” Such comments and proposals should further discuss ways to manage 2,4-D’s potential drinking water, residential (swimmer), occupational, and ecological risks resulting from its aquatic and terrestrial use.Drinking water risk could potentially be of concern from direct application of 2,4-D to water for aquatic weed control. The Agency has proposed the following measures to mitigate this concern: application of 2,4-D to surface sources of drinking water will be limited to local, state and federal agencies and cooperating water user organizations; applicators must be properly licensed; and drinking water use restrictions must be communicated to the affected community. Under the proposed mitigation, application amounts and rates would be limited, and posting treated areas would be required. Drinking water use restrictions would remain until it can be demonstrated that the 2,4-D concentration in the water is less than 70 parts per billion (ppb), the Agency’s Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) enforced under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Potential residential risks to swimmers were identified when water bodies are treated with 2,4-D BEE. To mitigate this risk, the Agency has proposed a maximum concentration for 2,4-D BEE products, and that notification/posting requirements be added, to prohibit swimming in treated water for at least 24 hours after application.
Occupational risks were identified for workers handling wettable powder formulations of 2,4-D. Engineering controls (water soluble packaging) are being proposed to reduce exposure and mitigate these potential risks.
Ecological risks to non-target plants, animals, and birds have been associated with terrestrial use of 2,4-D. In addition, use of 2,4-D for aquatic weed control presents potential risks to aquatic organisms and plants. Proposed mitigation includes limiting maximum application rates to the application rates typically used. Additional suggestions are requested.
This review of 2,4-D is part of the Agency's process of reevaluating
pesticides to ensure they meet current scientific and regulatory
standards for health, safety, and environmental protection. EPA plans
to complete a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for 2,4-D this
year. EPA's January 12, 2005, Federal Register notice is available on
the Agency's Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2005/January/Day-12/p505. The
2,4-D risk assessments, Preliminary Risk Mitigation Proposals, and
related documents are available at the Federal Docket Management System www.regulations.gov, #EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0167,
and will also be available on the Agency's pesticide reregistration
status Web page, http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm.
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