United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Prevention, Pesticides
And Toxic Substances
(7508W)
EPA-738-F-96-021
October 1996
R.E.D. FACTS
Pesticide
Reregistration
Tridecenyl Acetates
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 November 1, 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 4116, tridecenyl acetates.
Use Profile
Regulatory
History
Tridecenyl acetates are sex attractant pheromones used in tomato
fields to disrupt the mating behavior of tomato pinworms.
Formulations include the technical grade active ingredients (TGAI)
and inert ingredients inside a solid polymeric matrix known as a dispenser;
the TGAI encapsulated in beads; and the TGAI embedded into polymeric
fibers.
Tridecenyl acetate products are applied by spraying the beads or
fibers, or by distributing the solid matrix dispensers.
There are no use practice limitations.
Tridecenyl acetates were first registered as a pesticide in the U.S. in
1982. Currently, eleven tridecenyl acetate products are registered with four
companies. These products employ the sex attractant pheromone of the
tomato pinworm and are applied to fields of tomatoes to disrupt the mating
behavior.
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Human Health
Assessment
Toxicity
In studies using laboratory animals, tridecenyl acetates generally have
been shown to be of low acute toxicity. There is potential for dermal, eye
and inhalation exposures to the pesticide for pesticide handlers, but due to
low application rates, even lower exposure subsequent to application, and to
the fact that the TGAI is embedded in a polymeric matrix, the potential is
considered minimal. Tridecenyl acetates have been placed in Toxicity
Category IV (the lowest of four categories) for this effect.
[NOTE: For acute oral, dietary, mammalian/avian/aquatic toxicity:
Category I = very highly or highly toxic
Category II = moderately toxic
Category III = slightly toxic
Category IV = practically non-toxic]
Dietary Exposure
This compound is not applied directly to the tomato plants nor is it
taken up or metabolized by tomato plants, but rather it is incorporated into
dispensers or as a microencapsulated material. Therefore, dietary exposure
to this compound is expected to be minimal. The Agency has established
an exemption from the requirements of a tolerance for this group of active
pesticidal ingredients (lepidopteran pheromones) when used at a rate not to
exceed 150 g. a.i./acre/year.
Occupational and Residential Exposure
Based on current use patterns, handlers (mixers, loaders, and
applicators) may be exposed to tridecenyl acetates during normal use of
bead, fiber and dispenser formulations. However the Agency believes that
the risk from this exposure is minimal.
Environmental
Assessment
Human Risk Assessment
Tridecenyl acetates generally are of low acute toxicity. Food crop use
is limited to tomatoes. Dietary exposure to tridecenyl acetate residues in
foods is extremely low.
Environmental Fate
Environmental fate Tier II studies for biochemicals are not imposed
unless adverse effects are observed in Tier I Environmental Expression
testing with wildlife, fish and aquatic invertebrates. There are no
outstanding environmental effects data requirements for the tridecenyl
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acetates. Sufficient data have been provided for an environmental fate and
effects assessment. Therefore the Agency will not impose any
environmental fate requirements for reregi strati on of the currently
registered products containing tridecenyl acetates.
Ecological Effects
All of the ecological effects data requirements for tridecenyl acetates
have been adequately fulfilled. A review of all available ecological toxicity
data indicate that tridecenyl acetates are not likely to cause adverse effects
in non-target avian, fish and aquatic invertebrate species.
Ecological Effects Risk Assessment
Ecological risk is considered minimal and therefore there are no risk
mitigation measures required.
Additional Data EPA is not requiring additional generic studies for tridecenyl acetates
Required at tnis time but will require revised Confidential Statements of Formula
(CSFs), and revised labeling for reregi strati on.
Product Labeling Labeling Requirements for Manufacturing-Use Products
Changes
Required There are currently three manufacturing-use products registered.
These are the 3M Company's MEC Tomato Pinworm Pheromone
Concentrate (10350-34), Bedoukian's TPW Technical Pheromone (52991-
3) and Consep's Checkmate TPW Technical Pheromone (56336-7). To be
in compliance with FIFRA, manufacturing use product labeling must
comply with all current EPA regulations, PR Notices and applicable
policies. The MP labeling must bear the following statement under
Directions for Use:
"Only for formulation into a pheromone for the following use: as an
attractant in a mating disrupter."
An MP registrant may, at his/her discretion, add one of the following
statements to an MP label under "Directions for Use" to permit the
reformulation of the product for a specific use or all additional uses
supported by a formulator or user group:
(a) "This product may be used to formulate products for specific use(s)
not listed on the MP label if the formulator, user group, or grower has
complied with U.S. EPA submission requirements regarding support
of suchuse(s)."
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(b) "This product may be used to formulate products for any additional
use(s) not listed on the MP label if the formulator, user group, or
grower has complied with U.S. EPA submission requirements
regarding support of such use(s)."
End-Use Products:
All tridecenyl acetate end-use products must comply with EPA's
current pesticide product labeling requirements. For a comprehensive list
of labeling requirements, please see the tridecenyl acetates RED document.
Worker Protection Standard:
The labeling of all microencapsulated end-use products containing
tridecenyl acetate must comply with EPA's current regulations and
requirements as specified in 40 CFR 156.10 and other applicable notices.
According to Pesticide Regulation (PR) Notice 93-7, "Labeling Revisions
Required by the Worker Protection Standard (WPS)", WPS does not apply
to attractants used in insect dispensers. However the microencapsulated
products are within the scope of the WPS and must bear all of the labeling
requirements stipulated in PR Notices 93-7 and 93-11.
Environmental Hazard:
The following Environmental Hazard Statement must appear on the
labeling of all products containing tridecenyl acetates:
"Do not apply directly to water, or to areas where surface water is
present or to intertidal areas below the high-water mark. Do not
contaminate water when disposing of equipment wash water or
rinsate."
Regulatory
Conclusion
The use of currently registered products containing tridecenyl acetates
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.
Tridecenyl acetates products will be reregistered once the required
revised Confidential Statements of Formula, and revised product 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 tridecenyl acetates 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 document 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 tridecenyl acetates 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 tridecenyl acetates RED, or reregi strati on of individual products
containing tridecenyl acetates, 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 Eastern Standard
Time, Monday through Friday.
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