| December 2011 | Past Issues | Advertise | Affiliates Search | PCOC.org |
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The membership contest is alive and well. Since last month we have had two persons qualify for the quarterly drawing at the December 10th Board of Directors meeting in Palm Springs. They are Michael Katz and Brad Delk. By the time you read this one of those guys will have won $250. EVERYONE has a chance for the next drawing on March 24, 2012 in Aptos at the Board of Directors meeting. All you have to do to qualify is recruit new Regular or Supplemental members. See the link below for the full set of contest rules. Click HERE for the full set of contest rules. RECRUIT RECRUIT RECRUIT DPR PROPOSES RESTRICTIONS IN URBAN AREAS TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY The Department of Pesticide Regulation proposes to amend section 6000 and adopt sections 6970 & 6972 California Code of Regulations (3 CCR). The proposed action would identify pesticides that have a high potential to contaminate surface water in outdoor nonagricultural settings, and require pest control businesses, including maintenance gardeners, that apply these pesticides to take actions to minimize that contamination. The proposed regulatory action pertains to 17 different pyrethroid pesticides including Bifenthrin, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin, Esfenvalerate and Permethrin. The proposed regulations would reduce the amount of pesticides available for runoff to surface water. Restrictions would include applications to soil surface, mulch, gravel, lawn turf or groundcover; horizontal impervious surfaces; vertical structural surfaces such as walls, foundations, windows, doors, fencing and granule formulations. In addition to DPR's proposal to limit applications to specific methods in order to reduce surface water contamination, DPR proposes to prohibit any application under certain circumstances. These requirements are designed to prohibit applications during precipitation that can carry these pesticides in runoff water to surface water, to reduce the amount of these pesticides applied that could be carried by rain water to surface water. The PCOC Water Quality Task Force, chaired by Darren Van Steenwyk, submitted comments on behalf of PCOC supporting the proposed regulations by DPR. Once these regulations become final it will mean a re-education of our industry on the application of pyrethroid products, specifically we will no longer be allowed to apply any pyrethroid products in the rain. PCOC will keep their members informed of the changes as they progress.
PYRETHROID INFORMATION WEBSITE FOR PEST MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS The Pyrethroid Working Group is now offering an online resource dedicated to keeping PMPs abreast of new labeling and regulatory requirements and related products containing widely used pyrethroid pesticides. The site, http://www.pwg2pmp.com/, is intended to serve as the "go-to" pyrethroids resource for PMPs. Professional pest control operators may soon be required to make changes in how they apply pyrethroid pesticides. The new requirements contained in updated surface water regulations proposed by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and in label changes required by the United States EPA help ensure that pesticides are applied in a manner to minimize runoff that may reach surface waters. The website offers an overview of the new labeling requirements in development at EPA, as well as related regulations under consideration at the state level. The website provides PMPs with an easy way to monitor and participate in the regulatory process by enabling them to subscribe to email alerts, which will notify them of new developments. The Pyrethroid Working Group is comprised of the following companies: AMVAC Chemical; Bayer Crop Science, Cheminova, Inc; DuPont Crop Protection; Stine-Haskell Research Center; FMC Corporation, Agricultural Products Group, Syngenta Crop Protection and Valent BioSciences Corporation.
THE DOSE MAKES THE POISON For pesticides and other potentially dangerous substances, "The dose makes the poison." In other words, the amount of a substance a person is exposed to is as important as how toxic the chemical might be. For example, small doses of aspirin (81 mg/day) can be beneficial to people and even save lives, but a very high dose of this common medicine could be deadly. If a PMP fogs a warehouse with dicholrovos (LD 50; 53 mg/kg), they may go into the treatment with all of the proper safety equipment to minimize their exposure to this potentially toxic and commonly used pesticide in a food processing facility. However, if they spill a small amount on their clothes or boots while filling equipment, they may increase the exposure time and cause an accumulation of this nerve poison. After multiple exposures this PMP could have a serious accumulation in his/her body that could cause mild to serious health effects. The following formula is important when determining risk from a substance: RISK = TOXICITY x EXPOSURE This means that a risk to human health from pesticide exposure depends on both the toxicity of the pesticide and the likelihood of people coming into contact with it. At least some exposure and some toxicity are required to result in a risk. For example, if the pesticide is very poisonous, but no people are exposed to it, there is no risk. Likewise, if there is ample exposure but the chemical is nontoxic, there is no risk. However, usually when pesticides are used, some toxicity and some exposure exist, which results in a potential risk. Salt is something we use to season our food. However, if the human body gets to much salt it can be deadly. "The dose makes the poison." |
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