Do not put chlorpyrifos products or ANY pesticides in the trash or down the drain!

Q. What are the risks to people from exposure to chlorpyrifos?

A. According to EPA, exposure to chlorpyrifos can over-stimulate the nervous system, causing nausea, dizziness, confusion, and at high exposures, respiratory paralysis and death. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide related to nerve gas.

Infants, children under 6, women, and people who mix, load, and apply pesticides on the job are at greatest risk from exposure to chlorpyrifos.

Q. How are people exposed to chlorpyrifos?

A. EPA estimates that between 20 million and 24 million pounds of chlorpyrifos are used in the U.S. each year. Approximately 52 percent is used by residents and pest control professionals in and around homes, schools, and buildings.

Chlorpyrifos is sold and used in many formulations, including granules, dust, aerosol and non-aerosol sprays, foggers, flea collars, and termite treatments. For these uses, people are exposed primarily by inhaling the chemical. Because chlorpyrifos is used on many food crops, people are also exposed when we eat.

Q. What are the risks to the environment?

A. Chlorpyrifos and other organophosphate pesticides (including diazinon) are highly toxic to fish and other aquatic life in streams, rivers, bays, and estuaries. In very small quantities, these chemicals are lethal to animals at the base of the food chain. Nation-wide, chlorpyrifos is the third most frequently detected insecticide in urban streams.

Q. What exactly is EPA doing about chlorpyrifos?

A. EPA has released a schedule that will stop some agricultural uses within a few months (on tomatoes and post-bloom apple crops), and reduce the legal dose in other cases (on grapes and pre-bloom apples).

Manufacture of products containing chlorpyrifos for residential, school, park, and commercial uses (lawn and garden, crack-and-crevice treatment for ants and termites, whole-house termite treatment) must end by December 1, 2000. Sale to retailers must end by February 1, 2001. Retail sale must end by December 31, 2001.

Some uses—those deemed important to protect the public health (such as professional application of "ultra-low-volume" mosquitocide treatments or for fire ant mounds) or those where children are unlikely to be exposed to the chemical (such as on golf courses or in containerized baits)—will be allowed to continue, with labeling restrictions.

Q. If chlorpyrifos is so bad, why are stores still selling it?

A. Chlorpyrifos has been sold and used for 30 years. While EPA’s action to remove it is unprecedented in its speed and breadth, the agency is not requiring manufacturers to buy back unsold product. Retailers must make business decisions about selling existing inventory.

Q. What about diazinon and other pesticides?

A. Diazinon, a close chemical relative of chlorpyrifos, is currently under review by EPA; a decision is expected later this year. In the meantime, San Francisco Bay and 35 Bay Area creeks have been declared by EPA to be "impaired" due to diazinon.

A less-toxic, chemicals-only-as-a-last-resort, strategy for managing pests in your home and garden is the best way to protect the health of your family, pets, and the environment. Information about less-toxic pest control is available from many sources. Ask where you buy pest control products, call U.C. Cooperative Extension Marin Master Gardeners at 499-4204, visit the website of your local clean water agency: www.mcstoppp.org or call them at 499-6528.