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OPTS
ISSUE UPDATE April 30, 1991 LAWNCARE PESTICIDES
QUESTION:
The use of pesticides on residential lawns is becoming
more prevalent. What is EPA doing to ensure that lawn
care pesticides can be used without harming homeowners,
their families and pets, wildlife and the environment?
ANSWER:
It is true that the use of pesticides on lawns is both
widespread and increasing. Many people desire neatly
groomed, healthy looking lawns. Increasingly, homeowners
are applying pesticides themselves or are hiring lawn
care services that use pesticides to achieve this result.
A very substantial market has developed for pesticides to
control weeds, insects and diseases on lawns.
According to recent estimates, homeowners and lawn
care companies together apply as much as 70 million
pounds of pesticide active ingredients to lawns each
year. To put this number in perspective, about 12 times
that amount, or roughly 815 million pounds of pesticide
active ingredients, are used annually in U.S.
agriculture. Both commercial and homeowner markets for
lawncare chemicals, which includes both pesticides and
fertilizers, are growing at approximately 5% to 8% per
year in dollar value.
About 7.5 million households hire commercial lawn care
services, and the lawn care industry has annual sales in
excess of $1.5 billion. Given this pattern of increasing
use, a large segment of the U.S. population may receive
at lest some exposure to lawn care chemicals. EPA
recognizes that the use of pesticides on lawns is an
issue that warrants our careful consideration. Although
food safety is our top priority pesticide issue, EPA also
will be paying close attention to lawn care and other
home pesticide uses as we go thorough the reregistration
process mandated by the 1988 FIFRA amendments.
The Agency is committed to exploring opportunities for
pollution prevention and consumer education in this area.
We are are encouraging consumers and the lawn care
industry to follow integrated pest management (IPM)
practices that reduce reliance on pesticides. EPA has
begun developing fact sheets and other materials that
outline ways to manage lawns and turf with a minimal use
of pesticides. EPA has identified four relevant areas of
concern and is taking action to address each area as
follows:
DATA REQUIREMENTS
Data on toxicity, exposure, and environmental fate and
ecological effects are needed to assess the safety of
lawn care pesticides. Up-to-date studies are being
submitted to the Agency and evaluated through the
reregistration process. In cases where significant
evidence arises to challenge the safety of any lawn care
pesticides, EPA can pursue regulatory action through its
Special Review process. There are some unknown factors in
assessing exposure to lawn care pesticides. However, EPA
is doing some preliminary work that ultimately should
enable us to better estimate outdoor residential exposure
to pesticides.
ADVERTISING CLAIMS
Inappropriate claims about the safety of lawn care
chemicals are sometimes made to consumers. EPA strongly
opposes such practices since false or misleading claims
may lead to overuse or careless use of pesticides. EPA is
working with the Federal Trade Commission to take action
against inappropriate safety claims. We also recognize
that education of consumers is vital, and will target
some of our outreach efforts accordingly.
POSTING/CONSUMER NOTIFICATION
Several states, counties and municipalities have set
requirements for posting treated lawns and for notifying
nearby residents about pesticides used. We have not ruled
out an EPA regulatory role in this area, but see numerous
complexities and practical problems related especially to
federal involvement in posting. EPA is meeting with the
lawn care industry's association and others to explore
possible approaches.
OUTREACH
Emphasizing pollution prevention, EPA and USDA are
providing the state extension services a training manual
for professionals and homeowners on ornamental turf pest
control. EPA also is developing fact sheets, articles and
other information materials to increase the general
public's awareness of lawn care issues. The Agency is
working with the lawn care industry as they develop a
series of television spots about environment-friendly
lawns. In summary, lawn care is a large and growing
category of pesticide use, with significant potential for
exposure of the general public. EPA is addressing the
major lawn care issues with an emphasis on pursuing
pollution prevention opportunities.
CONTACT:
William Jordan, Chief Policy and Special Projects
Staff, OPP (202) 557-7102
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