E.P.A. Suggests to Cancel Some Uses of an Insecticide Commonly Used for Residential, Industrial and Commercial Purposes/The agency found unacceptable risks to human health when sprayed indoors

WASHINGTON -- The E.P.A. (EPA) is proposing to cancel certain uses of the insecticide propoxur after preliminary human health assessment found risks from certain applications.

"Today, we are taking strong steps to protect human health-especially the health of children-from this widely used insecticide," said Jim Jones, assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "The agency will continue its work to reduce exposure from pesticides that pose the greatest risk to those who are the most vulnerable."

From 1995 to 2013, E.P.A. has reduced exposure from carbamates, the class of insecticide that includes propoxur. The use of carbamates has fallen by 70 percent.

E.P.A. and the registrant reached an arrangement to voluntarily cancel certain uses of propoxur. At the same time, E.P.A. is proposing to cancel certain other pesticide registrations. Voluntary cancellation is the quickest way to fully address these risks, and best protect public health. E.P.A. is proposing to cancel all indoor aerosol, spray and liquid formulations of propoxur inside hospitals and other commercial or institutional facilities where children may be present and all use in food-handling establishments.

After these cancellations, there would be no remaining food uses, and no tolerances levels for propoxur. In 2007, E.P.A. cancelled the use of propoxur sprays inside homes, day care facilities, and schools, and in 2014, E.P.A. cancelled propoxur pet collars. Today's action was conducted as part of the agency's registration review program.

E.P.A. is requesting a 30 day review period that will begin upon publication in the Federal Register at: www.regulations.gov and searching for EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0296.

E.P.A. is posting a pre-publication copy at: http://www2.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/proposed-cancellation-certain-uses-propoxur

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