U.S. EPA Seeks Public Comment on Measures to Address Human Health and Ecological Risks Posed by Diuron

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing the proposed interim decision (PID) for the pesticide diuron. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires EPA to review pesticides every 15 years to ensure that risk assessments reflect the best available science, and to ensure that registered products in the marketplace do not present unreasonable adverse effects to human health and the environment. The PID is part of a multi-step process to identify risks of concern as well as actions that can mitigate these risks.

Diuron is used as an herbicide to control annual and perennial broadleaf and grassy weeds in a variety of agricultural sites and non-agricultural sites (e.g., rights-of-way, utilities, and roadways) as well as a harvest aid (defoliant) in cotton and an algaecide in commercial fish production. The pesticide also has antimicrobial uses as a mildewcide and materials preservative in paints, stains, coatings, adhesives, and sealants.

Click here to see more details.