Doubts about handling toxic pesticide grow

Michelle Cole of The Oregonian 11dec00

The EPA moves to end the sale of diazinon and warns people to take precautions to avoid health risks and environmental harm

The federal government's move to ban diazinon, a common pesticide, by 2003 while not encouraging its disposal has generated doubt about the proper way to handle the toxic household substance.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced last week an agreement with two manufacturers to end the sale of diazinon, the most widely used pesticide on residential lawns, by December 2003. The EPA has linked diazinon, a nerve agent, to potential health risks, particularly for children.

But the agency said consumers do not need to get rid of diazinon that might be in the house or garage. As long as products with diazinon are properly handled, the agency said, they pose no immediate danger.

The EPA has protocols for diazinon use. When applying it:

• Avoid skin contact by wearing gloves, long pants and long-sleeved shirts.

• Keep children, pets and others away until sprays have dried.

• Wash hands and clothes after application.

• Take precautions to prevent the contamination of rivers, lakes and streams. Products containing diazinon can be taken to one of four hazardous-waste disposal sites in the Portland area and in Clark County.

"You don't want to pour diazinon or any kind of pesticide or potentially hazardous product down the sink or down the drain or on the ground," said Jan O'Dell, spokeswoman for the Metro regional government.

Diazinon, an organophosphate, is extremely toxic to wildlife, especially fish.

Officials representing the Portland Public Schools and Portland Parks and Recreation say their agencies have not used diazinon for several years. But chances are most people do have diazinon around the house.

The EPA estimates that Americans use more than 13 million pounds of diazinon annually.

In the Northwest, diazinon is most often used to control ants, aphids, carpenter ants, crane flies and fleas. The Oregon Department of Agriculture says 152 products sold in the state contain diazinon. Of those, 95 are sold for household use. The most common brands include Ortho, Real-Kill and Spectracide.

According to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, diazinon is one of the most commonly found pesticides in rivers and streams in urban areas. Sampling in the Willamette basin by the USGS found diazinon in 60 percent of the water samples, said Norma Grier, executive director of the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, a Eugene-based environmental group.

A report issued in June by the Oregon Pesticide Education Network found that diazinon threatens Northwest salmon runs because it can disrupt juveniles' predatory defenses; can poison insects and other animals on which young salmon feed; can alter adult male spawning habits; and can cause genetic damage.

The EPA has found the level of diazinon in drinking water supplies to be below that which would pose a risk to human health. But humans should prevent ingestion or inhalation of diazinon as well as exposing their skin to direct contact with the pesticide. Symptoms of overexposure include nausea, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea.

All the more reason, Grier said, the EPA should be "ashamed for not taking further action to protect people and the environment from this harmful pesticide."

"There are viable alternatives that people can use around their homes and gardens and there's no reason to continue to add diazinon to the environment," she said.

Dave Deegan, an EPA spokesman, defended the government's diazinon timetable.

"The bottom line is the EPA feels that phasing it out in the next several years will still protect the public safety while allowing users to find alternatives that work for them," he said.

Metro discusses alternatives to pesticides on its Web site. Look for the "Natural Gardening" section under "Environmental Management."

The Oregon Pesticide Education Network said homeowners can keep carpenter ants under control by keeping the wooden parts of a house dry, storing firewood away from the house and trimming tree branches so they don't touch the roof.

You can reach Michelle Cole at 503-294-5143 or by e-mail at michellecole@news.oregonian.com

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