Carbaryl, Carbofuran, and Methomyl - National Marine Fisheries ...

toxicity. This group includes carbaryl, carbofuran, methomyl, and seven other
cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides.
(http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative/carbamate_risk_mgmt.htm). EPA published
a preliminary Cumulative Risk Assessment for NMC pesticides in 2005 and revised the
risk assessment in 2007 (EPA 2007). Concurrent with completing the revised
assessments, EPA completed tolerance reassessments and REDs for the NMC pesticides
(EPA 1998; EPA 2006; EPA 2007; EPA 2008). EPA has identified measures to address
cumulative risk of NMC pesticides
(http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative/carbamate_risk_mgmt.htm). Some of the risk
reduction measures for carbaryl, carbofuran, and methomyl follow:
Carbaryl – EPA intends to evaluate the revised worker assessment, which may require
an amendment to the RED. EPA continues to respond to petitions requesting that
carbaryl be cancelled and its tolerances revoked.
Carbofuran – EPA is pursuing cancellation of all carbofuran uses in the U.S. EPA has
received a request from the carbofuran registrant, FMC Corporation, for voluntary
cancellation of 22 crop uses of this pesticide. FMC Corporation has six uses not
proposed for voluntary cancellation that EPA indicates still present risk concerns and are
subject to future regulatory action by EPA. In July 2008, EPA initiated action to revoke
existing carbofuran tolerances (residue limits in food) due to unacceptable dietary risks,
especially to children, from consuming food or water alone or from a combination of
food and water with carbofuran residues. Following resolution of the tolerance
revocations, EPA plans to proceed with cancellation of remaining carbofuran uses due to
unreasonable ecological and worker risks (Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 245 /
December 19, 2008 /77690-77693). In March 2008, EPA announced an order for the
cancellation of some registrations and termination of certain uses, voluntarily requested
by the registrant (Federal Register/Vol. 74, No. 51/ March 18, 2009/11551-11553).
Methomyl – The intent of registrants for voluntary cancellation of methomyl use on
strawberry and grapes were incorporated in the N-methyl carbamate revised cumulative
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