United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Prevention, Pesticides
And Toxic Substances
(7508W)
EPA-738-F-92-012
September 1992
R.E.D. FACTS
Pesticide
Registration
Use Profile
Regulatory
History
Ethylene
All pesticides sold or used 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 years ago be reregistered to ensure that they meet
today's more stringent standards.
In evaluating pesticides for reregistration, EPA obtains and reviews a
complete set of studies from pesticide producers, describing the human
health and environmental effects of each pesticide. The Agency imposes
any regulatory controls that are needed to effectively manage each
pesticide's risks. EPA then reregisters pesticides that can be used without
posing undue hazards to human health or the environment.
When a pesticide is eligible for reregistration, EPA announces this and
explains why in a Reregistration Eligibility Document, or RED. This fact
sheet summarizes the information in the RED for ethylene.
The pesticide ethylene is registered for use as a plant growth regulator
and a herbicide. Ethylene is used commercially as a ripening agent for
fruits and vegetables, a curing agent for tobacco, and a flower-producing
agent in pineapples. It also is used to control witchweed in corn, cotton,
peanuts and soybeans.
The first pesticide product containing ethylene as an active ingredient
was registered in December 1971. In May 1990, EPA designated ethylene
as a biorational pesticide because it is naturally occurring and has a nontoxic
mode of action in controlling target pests. Currently, eight pesticide
products containing ethylene are registered with EPA.
Ethylene is exempt from the requirement of a tolerance (or maximum
residue level) when used as a plant growth regulator on fruit and vegetable
crops, or when injected into the soil to cause premature germination of
witchweed, as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
witchweed control program. (Please see 40 CFR 180.1016.)
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Human Health
Assessment
Environmental
Assessment
Toxicity
EPA used information from the published literature rather than
requiring new studies from registrants to assess the toxicity of ethylene.
Ethylene is a gas; therefore, the only exposure of toxicological
concern is exposure to the lungs. Ethylene is naturally occurring and has
been used widely as an anesthetic since 1923 without reports of significant
toxicity. Therefore, EPA concludes that ethylene will be nontoxic to
humans under its approved conditions of use as a plant growth regulator and
in witchweed control programs.
Dietary Exposure
Ethylene is exempt from tolerance requirements, as mentioned earlier.
EPA is requiring no residue data for reregistration because ethylene poses
no dietary risk concerns.
Occupational and Residential Exposure
EPA has waived requirements for applicator and residential exposure
studies because ethylene poses no mammalian toxicity concerns. In
addition, due to its high volatility, people are not likely to be exposed to
ethylene once it has been applied to fruit, vegetables or soil.
Human Risk Assessment
The potential risks to people from the pesticide uses of ethylene are
considered negligible because ethylene is of low toxicity, high volatility (so
exposure to treated foliage and foods as well as skin and lungs is minimal),
and has had years of safe use as an anesthetic.
Environmental Fate
Since ethylene is a biorational pesticide, environmental fate studies
would not be required unless adverse effects on fish and wildlife were noted
in ecological effects studies. As explained below, all ecotoxicity studies
have been waived. Therefore, environmental fate studies are not required.
Ecological Effects
EPA has waived the ecological effects data requirements for both the
indoor and outdoor uses of ethylene. Because it is a volatile gas, ethylene
used indoors is not likely to result in exposure to nontarget species. The
outdoor uses, soil injection and pineapple sprays, will result in only
negligible exposure to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Ethylene is
naturally occurring and of low toxicity. Therefore, no data are required for
reregistration of the outdoor uses.
Environmental and Ecological Risk Assessment
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Ethylene is a naturally occurring, volatile gas, regarded as a
biorational pesticide due to its low toxicity. Therefore, EPA finds that the
registered uses of ethylene do not pose an unreasonable risk to the
environment.
Additional Data EPA has waived all generic (that is, active ingredient- specific) data
RedUJr0d requirements for ethylene except for technical chemistry studies, which have
been received and reviewed.
Product LabGling The labels of all registered ethylene products must comply with EPA's
ChanCieS ReQUired current pesticide labeling requirements. A summary of the label
additions/changes required for ethylene technical or manufacturing use
products appears in the RED.
The following additions/changes are required in the labeling of
ethylene end-use products:
• The signal word is "DANGER".
• The Precautionary Statement must read, "Liquefied or pressurized
gas can cause frost burns. Do not get in eyes or on skin. Wear long-
sleeved shirt, long pants, boots, goggles and chemical-resistant gloves
while handling cylinders or any application equipment under pressure.
Harmful if inhaled. Avoid breathing vapors. Do not enter
unventilated treatment areas unless wearing a respirator approved by
NIOSH/MSHA for this use."
• The First Aid Statement of Practical Treatment must read, "IF IN
EYES: Flush with plenty of water. Call a physician."
"IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water. Get medical
attention."
"IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air. If not breathing, give
artificial respiration, preferably mouth-to-mouth. Get medical
attention."
• The Physical or Chemical Hazards Statement must read,
"Extremely flammable. Contents under pressure. Keep away from
fire, sparks and heated surfaces. Do not puncture or incinerate
container. Exposure to temperatures above 130 degrees Fahrenheit
may cause bursting."
RGgulatory * All registered pesticide products containing the active ingredient
Conclusion ethylene are not likely to cause unreasonable adverse effects in people or the
environment, and are eligible for reregistration. These products will be
reregistered once the required confidential statement of formula and revised
labeling are received and accepted by EPA.
For More EPA is requesting public comments on the Reregistration Eligibility
Document (RED) for ethylene during a 60-day time period, as announced in
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Information a Notice of Availability published in the Federal Register. To obtain a copy
of the RED or to submit written comments, please contact the Public
Response and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division
(7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), US EPA, Washington, DC
20460, telephone 703-305-5805.
In the future, the ethylene RED 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 ethylene or about EPA's pesticide
reregistration program, please contact the Special Review and Reregistration
Division (7508W), OPP, US EPA, Washington, DC 20460, telephone 703-
308-8000. For information about reregistration of individual ethylene
products, please contact PM Team 22, Registration Division (7505C),
OPP, US EPA, Washington, DC 20460, telephone 703-305-5540.
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, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or fax your
inquiry to 806-743-3094.
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