The EPA on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, announced it is taking action to end all uses of the insecticide endosulfan in the United States. Endosulfan, which is used on vegetables, fruits, and cotton, can pose unacceptable neurological and reproductive risks to farmworkers and wildlife and can persist in the environment, the agency said.

New data generated in response to the agency's 2002 decision have shown that risks faced by workers are greater than previously known, according to an agency press release. The EPA also noted  risks above the agency's level of concern to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, as well as to birds and mammals that consume aquatic prey which have ingested endosulfan. As the agency noted, Endosulfan is used on a very small percentage of the U.S. food supply and does not present a risk to human health from dietary exposure.

Makhteshim Agan of North America, the manufacturer of endosulfan, is in discussions with the EPA to voluntarily terminate all endosulfan uses. The agency said it is currently working out the details of the decision that will eliminate all endosulfan uses, while incorporating consideration of the needs for growers to timely move to lower-risk pest control practices.

For more information, visit www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/endosulfan/endosulfan-cancl-fs.html.

SOURCE: EPA Press Release