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EPA Wants To Ban Insecticide For Home Use

June 5, 2000

EPA is proposing to revoke limits for the pesticide methyl\r\nparathion on many fruits and vegetables.

EPA is proposing to revoke limits for the pesticide methyl parathion on many fruits and vegetables.

This decision, issued Friday, was based on EPA''s determination that showed acute dietary risks from methyl parathion in food did not meet current requirements for an extra margin of safety to protect children under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA).

The agency made that determination after completing a comprehensive review of methyl parathion''s use.

The chemical is most heavily used on corn and other crops, but it''s also been used for years indoors and outside to kill termites, roaches, ants, fleas and other pests. Some 20 to 24 million pounds of the chemical are applied annually nationwide.

EPA is working with the Food and Drug Administration, who also on June 2 issued guidance on how it will handle situations involving methyl parathion residues in foods that were illegally treated with the chemical before January.

For more information on EPA''s reassessment of methyl parathion, visit www.epa.gov/pesticides/op.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

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EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.