United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Prevention, Pesticides
And Toxic Substances
(7508W)
EPA-738-F-96-001
December 1995
R.E.D. FACTS
Pesticide
Reregistration
Hydroxyethyl Octyl
Sulfide _
All pesticides sold or distributed in the United States must be
registered by EPA, based on scientific studies showing that they can be
used without posing unreasonable risks to people or the environment.
Because of advances in scientific knowledge, the law requires that
pesticides which were first registered before Nov.l, 1984, be reregistered to
ensure that they meet today's more stringent standards.
In evaluating pesticides for reregi strati on, EPA obtains and reviews a
complete set of studies from pesticide producers, describing the human
health and environmental effects of each pesticide. The Agency develops
any mitigation measures or regulatory controls needed to effectively reduce
each pesticide's risks. EPA then reregisters pesticides that can be used
without posing unreasonable risks to human health or the environment.
When a pesticide is eligible for reregi strati on, EPA explains the basis
for its decision in a Reregi strati on Eligibility Decision (RED) document.
This fact sheet summarizes the information in the RED document for
reregi strati on case 3103, hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide.
Use Profile
Regulatory
History
Hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide is currently registered for use as an insect
repellent for recreational areas, refuse/solid waste containers (garbage
cans), on ornamental and/or shade trees, compost/compost piles,
household/domestic dwellings, and pet living and sleeping areas.
Formulations include an emulsifiable concentrate and a pressurized liquid.
Hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide may be applied by aerosol can or ready-to-use
fogger. Use practice limitations prohibit direct application to lakes,
streams, ponds and wetlands.
Hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide was first registered in the United States in
1962 for use as an insect repellent. A September 1992 Data Call-In(DCI)
required additional chemistry, toxicology, and environmental data.
Currently there are 26 pesticide products registered which contain
hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide as an active ingredient.
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Human Health
Assessment
Toxicity
In laboratory animal studies measuring acute toxicity, technical grade
hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide has been shown to be slightly toxic by the
dermal route, placing it in Toxicity Category III for dermal toxicity. It has
been shown to produce moderate to slight irritation in eye and dermal
irritation studies, placing it in Toxicity Category II for eye irritation and
Toxicity Category III for skin irritation. It is practically non-toxic in oral
toxicity studies, placing it in Toxicity Category IV for oral toxicity. This
chemical is not a skin sensitizer based on a study using guinea pigs.
Developmental toxicity studies using rats resulted in no maternal
toxicity and no treatment-related fetal external or soft tissue abnormalities
at any dose level. Hydroxy ethyl octyl sulfide did not cause mutagenicity in
four tests.
Dietary Exposure
Because there is no known dietary exposure to hydroxyethyl octyl
sulfide, a dietary exposure assessment was not done. The Agency considers
the uses of hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide to be non-food.
Occupational and Residential Exposure
EPA has determined that residential and occupational exposures to
hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide do not warrant a risk assessment at this time. The
Agency's decision was based on the current use patterns, the current label
requirements along with language required in the RED document, and the
absence of any lexicologically significant endpoints for hydroxyethyl octyl
sulfide.
Environmental
Assessment
Environmental Fate
Hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide and its sulfoxide and sulfone degradates
are not likely to persist for any significant amount of time, having half-lives
of <2 days in soil. Even though hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide residues are
moderately mobile in soil and have a relatively high water solubility,
ground and surface water contamination are not likely based on the lack of
persistence in soil, the limited amount of use, and its outdoor use pattern.
However, hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide may persist if it is applied directly to
water.
Ecological Effects
Hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide is practically nontoxic to avian species on
both an acute oral and a subacute dietary basis. It is unlikely that birds will
ingest any residue on avian food items because hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide
is quick to volatilize. In addition, based on the limited use pattern of
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hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide products and the lack of persistence in aerobic
soil of both the parent compound and metabolites, it is unlikely that birds
will be exposed or adversely impacted. Hydroxy ethyl octyl sulfide causes
moderate to high toxicity in most aquatic organisms tested to date.
However, it is neither persistent nor mobile in the environment. If
hydroxy ethyl octyl sulfide is used in accordance with existing label
restrictions there is minimal potential for aquatic organisms to be adversely
impacted through ground or surface water.
Additional Data EPA is requiring product-specific data, including product chemistry
Required an<^ efficacy data, revised Confidential Statements of Formula (CSFs), and
revised product labeling for reregi strati on of products containing
hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide.
Product Labeling
Changes
Required
The labels of all registered pesticide products containing
hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide must comply with EPA's current pesticide
labeling requirements.
User Safety Recommendations- The labels of all hydroxyethyl octyl
sulfide end-use products must contain the following statements:
"Users should wash hands before eating, drinking, chewing gum,
using tobacco, or using the toilet."
"Users should remove clothing immediately if pesticide gets inside.
Then wash thoroughly and put on clean clothing."
"Do not apply this product in a way that will contact any unprotected
person, either directly or through drift."
"Do not apply directly to water or wetlands, swamps, bogs, marshes
and potholes, or areas where surface water is present or to intertidal areas
below the mean high water mark. Keep out of lakes streams and ponds. Do
not apply on food crops. Do not apply on household pets."
"The pesticide should only be applied when the potential for drift to
adjacent sensitive areas (e.g. residential areas, bodies of water, known
habitat for threatened or endangered species, non-target crops) is minimal
(e.g. when wind is blowing away from the sensitive areas)."
Regulatory
Conclusion
The use of currently registered pesticide products containing
hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide as an active ingredient in accordance with
approved labeling will not pose unreasonable risks or adverse effects to
humans or the environment. Therefore, all uses of these products are
eligible for reregi strati on.
These hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide products will be reregistered once
the required product-specific data, revised Confidential Statements of
Formula, and revised labeling are received and accepted by EPA.
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For More EPA is requesting public comments on the Reregi strati on Eligibility
Information Decision (RED) document for hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide during a 60-day
time period, as announced in a Notice of Availability published in the
Federal Register. To obtain a copy of the RED or to submit written
comments, please contact the Pesticide Docket, Public Response and
Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of
Pesticide Programs (OPP), US EPA, Washington, DC 20460, telephone
703-305-5805.
Electronic copies of the RED and this fact sheet can be downloaded
from the Pesticide Special Review and Reregi strati on Information System
at 703-308-7224. They also are available on the Internet on EPA's gopher
server, GOPHER.EPA.GOV, or using ftp on FTP.EPA.GOV, or using
WWW (World Wide Web) on WWW.EPA.GOV.
Printed copies of the RED and fact sheet can be obtained from EPA's
National Center for Environmental Publications and Information
(EPA/NCEPI), PO Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 45242-0419, telephone
513-489-8190, fax 513-489-8695.
Following the comment period, the hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide RED
document also will be available from the National Technical Information
Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, telephone
703-487-4650.
For more information about EPA's pesticide reregi strati on program,
the hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide RED, or reregi strati on of individual products
containing hydroxyethyl octyl sulfide, please contact the Special Review
and Reregi strati on Division (7508W), OPP, US EPA, Washington, DC
20460, telephone 703-308-8000.
For information about the health effects of pesticides, or for assistance
in recognizing and managing pesticide poisoning symptoms, please contact
the National Pesticides Telecommunications Network (NPTN). Call toll-
free 1-800-858-7378, between 9:30 am and 7:30 pm Central Time, Monday
through Friday.
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