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Fenamiphos Facts
EPA 738-F-08-005
June 2008
EPA assessed the risks of fenamiphos and completed an Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision
(IRED) document for this organophosphate (OP) pesticide in 2002. The IRED identified risk
mitigation measures needed to reduce risk, as well as data needed to better characterize risks. The
sole registrant, Bayer Corporation, requested voluntary cancellation and phase-out of all existing
fenamiphos registrations rather than committing to develop additional data. EPA approved this
request.
Used on a variety of vegetables and fruits, fenamiphos residues in food do not pose risk concerns.
However, exposure to drinking water sources from shallow water tables (less than 50 feet deep)
and extremely vulnerable soils do pose risk concerns. Extremely vulnerable soils are defined as,
"hydrologic soil group A soils that are excessively drained and predominantly sand or loamy sand,
such as soils in the suborder psamments." These classifications and soil taxonomy refer to USDA
definitions. Therefore, all uses of fenamiphos in areas with extremely vulnerable soils and shallow
water tables were phased out by May 31, 2005.
Fenamiphos is not used in residential settings. It is, however, used on turf including golf course
turf, which could lead to golfer exposure from residues on treated courses. Nevertheless, the
Agency believes that the watering-in of fenamiphos adequately protects golfers.Implementation of
risk mitigation during the phase out, negotiated between the registrant and the Agency, is believed
to decrease the risks associated with fenamiphos.
EPA has considered available information on the cumulative risk of the OP pesticides, which share a
common mechanism of toxicity, as required by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). The
tolerance reassessment decision for fenamiphos has been proposed in a Federal Register notice
dated February 6, 2008 (FRL-8345-2). This notice proposes that all domestic tolerances are to be
revoked by December 31, 2009. The notice also proposes that several commodities treated with
fenamiphos will continue to have import tolerances: banana; fruit, citrus, group 10; garlic; grape;
and pineapple.
The fenamiphos decision was made through the OP pilot public participation process, which
increases transparency and maximizes stakeholder involvement in EPA's development of risk
assessments and risk management decisions. EPA worked extensively with affected parties to
reach the decisions presented in the IRED document. The agreement on the voluntary cancellation,
based on the registrant's decision not to develop data that were an essential part of the risk
mitigation proposal, concludes the Agency's reregistration review of fenamiphos.
Uses
A nematicide and an insecticide, fenamiphos has been used primarily to control nematodes
and thrips on various agricultural crops (i.e., citrus, grapes, peanuts, pineapples, tobacco,
etc.) and non-agricultural (i.e., turf and ornamentals) sites. Additionally, all uses have
been soil incorporated, except for the pineapple use. There are no residential uses for
fenamiphos.
Annual domestic use was low-- approximately 780,000 pounds of active ingredient per
year..
Fenamiphos is a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) due to high acute toxicity and toxicity to
wildlife.
Health Effects
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Fenamiphos Facts | Pesticides | US EPA
Risks
Fenamiphos can cause cholinesterase inhibition in humans; that is, it can overstimulate the
nervous system causing nausea, dizziness, confusion, and at very high exposures (e.g.,
accidents or major spills), respiratory paralysis and death.
Dietary (acute and chronic) exposures from eating commodities treated with fenamiphos
are below the Agency's level of concern for the entire U.S. population, including infants and
children.
Dietary (drinking water) exposures are generally not of concern for surface and ground
water sources in soils that are not extremely vulnerable. However, exposure to shallow
ground water sources of drinking water associated with soils that are extremely vulnerable
exceed the Agency's level of concern.
EPA has risk concerns for workers who mix, load, and/or apply fenamiphos to agricultural
sites and golf courses.
Acute and chronic risks exceed the Agency's level of concern for terrestrial, aquatic, and
endangered species.
Risk Mitigation
• The registrant requested voluntary cancellation of existing fenamiphos product
registrations with a 5-year phase out. A Use Deletion and Product Cancellation Order
(FRL-7332-5) (68 FR 68901) for fenamiphos was published in the Federal Register on
December 10, 2003, announcing that EPA granted the registrant's request.
* The registrant agreed to cancel use, and formulation for use, of all of its existing
fenamiphos registrations in areas with extremely vulnerable soils and shallow water tables
effective May 31, 2005.
The registrant agreed to produce no more than 500,000 pounds of fenamiphos
manufacturing use products for use in the United States during the first year of the phase
out which ended May 31, 2003. In each subsequent year of the 5-year phase out,
production was reduced by 20% of the previous year's production.
+ All fenamiphos product registrations were cancelled and sale and distribution of
manufacturing and end-use products by the registrant were prohibited effective May 31,
2007.
* Sale and distribution of all existing stocks by persons other than the registrant were to be
prohibited effective May 31, 2008. However, as announced in an Amendment to Use
Deletion and Product Cancellation Order published in the Federal Register on June 11, 2008
(FRL-8368-2), persons other than the registrant are allowed to continue to sell and
distribute two fenamiphos products, Nemacur 10% Turf and Ornamental Nematicide (EPA
Reg. No. 432-1291) and Nemacur 3 Emulsifiable Systemic Insecticide-Nematicide (EPA
Reg. No. 264-731) until November 30, 2008.
• Revised labels for all fenamiphos products were submitted to the Agency in accordance
with the registrant's request for an amendment of all of its existing registrations.
* Use of existing stocks in the channels of trade may continue until depleted, except where
prohibited by the revised labels.
Next Steps
Numerous opportunities for public comment were offered as this decision was being
developed. The fenamiphos IRED document was issued in final (see
www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm), without a formal public comment
period. However, the docket remains open, and any comments submitted in the future will
be placed in this public docket.
A copy of the Interim RED and all supporting documents are available on the Agency's
website at www.eDa.aov/Desticides/rereaistration/status.htm.
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Last updated on Wednesday, February 16, 2011
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