EPA 540/09-88-050 PESTICIDE ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES SUBDIVISION N CHEMISTRY: ENVIRDNMEWTAL FATE Series 165-1 Confined Accumulation Studies on Rotational Crops ADDENDUM 7 ON DftTA REPORTING Prepared by: E. Brinson Conerly and Samuel M. Creeger Exposure Assessment Branch Hazard Evaluation Division Office of Pesticide Programs Project Manager: Elizabeth M.K. Leovey, PhD Hazard Evaluation Division Office of Pesticide Programs US Environmental Protection Agency ------- Subdivision N - Confined Accumulation Studies on Rotational Crops Table of Contents of Addendum Page Discussion Introduction - 2 Response to Public Comments 2 Guideline Title/Cover Page 9 Table of Contents 9 I. Abstract 10 II. Introduction 10 III. Materials/Methods 10 IV. Results/Discussion 13 V. Conclusion 13 VI. Certification 13 VII. Tables/F igures 14 VIII. References 14 IX. Appendix(es) 14 -1- ------- PESTICIDE ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES ENVIRONMENTAL FATE Confined Accumulation Studies on Rotational Crops Subdivision N, Series 165-1 DATA REPORTING INTRODUCTION A. Purpose The confined accumulation study on rotational crops allows the Agency to determine the uptake of a pesticide and its degradation products when the pesticide is applied under use conditions. This confined rotational crop study is required, in addition to the laboratory environmental fate studies, in order to establish experimentally the actual levels of residues to be expected in rotational crcps under use conditions. These data are used to establish realistic crop rotation restrictions or determine the need for crop tolerances. B. Objective This Data Reporting Guideline (DRG) is provided to aid the petitioner/ registrant in generating reports which are compatible with the Agency's review process. Data submitters are encouraged to use it to produce complete reports for efficient review by the Agency. It pertains to organizing and presenting the substance of the data report. PR Notice 86-5, effective on November 1, 1986, available from the Office of Pesticide Programs, US EPA, pertains to physical formatting of reports (which are referred to as "studies") and submittal packages. Sane of its requirements are mandatory. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS A common comment was that the Data Submission Guidelines are being used as a mechanism to impose new data requirements. This document does not impose new data requirements but mentions the types of information submitted by registrants in the past with their crop accumulation studies. The purpose of this document is to recanmend the organizational format of that information. If the registrant feels some of the information will not aid in the efficient review of the study, then he may decide not to include it with the study. Conversely, if the registrant feels the information will aid in the efficient review of the study, then it would be advantageous to include it with the study based on this reccnimended format. After considering all of the comments, it was obvious that many ccnimenters do not understand how seme information impacts heavily on the efficient review of a study. Therefore, in addressing the conments, an attempt has been made to explain how the information does aid in the efficient review of a study and that -2- ------- -3- it will be in the registrant's interest to include that material with the study. The canments are addressed belcw: 1. Comment: The term "actual practice" is used throughout the document. It is unclear what is intended by the use of this term. Response; The intended meaning is "usual practice" or "customary practice." 2. Canment: The term "significant" is used repeatedly, but not defined. This addendum should define the level of residue that the Agency considers significant and necessary for characterization. Hopefully, this definition will cite a threshold level belcw which total residue is insignificant as well as a proportion of the total radioactivity an individual metabolite should represent to require identification. Response: Detectable residues should always be reported in these studies. In a radiotracer study, the Agency would usually consider a metabolite which comprised as much as 10% of the recovered material "significant." 3. Garment: .. .we would argue [that] the purpose [of the study] is "to establish experimentally the actual levels of residues to be expected in rotational crops under use conditions." In our view, a confined study is a pass-fail test. If residues occur, then a field test is required. Response: The results from the confined study also provide information on type and quantity of degradates thereby allowing for a better-designed field study if one is necessary. 4. Comment: Inclusion of chemical structures for chemical and breakdown products is redundant and unnecessary as they are contained in the main body of the report. Chemical and/or common names should suffice for an Abstract. Inclusion of structures should be optional. Response: Such information need only be included once in the report. We do strongly encourage applicants to provide structures where possible. ------- -4- 5. Comment: Name and phone number of contact person should be placed on cover page. Response; Note that this information is optional. It may be placed on the cover page. 6. Comment: It is recommended that use of millicuries per millimole (mCi/mmol) and disintegrations per minute per microgram (dpm/ug) replace curies/mole and dpm/g [since]...it is more representative of the range of concentration used in studies... Response: Applicants may use these units if they so choose, however, units should be clearly specified and used consistently throughout the report. 7. Comment: ...Storage stability data on parent chemical and metabolites are normally addressed in Residue Chemistry sections. Why are data required to support radiolabeled studies? Response: Decomposition even of radioactive compounds may take place during storage. These data provide insight into that possibility. 8. Comment: The request for method validation recovery and sensitivity data, quality control procedures and results, would appear to relate to unlabeled (i.e. "cold") methods of analysis involving GLC or HPLC. If so, it should be so stated. Response: Appropriate method validation data would relate either to "cold" or "hot" methods. The applicant should provide sufficient information to demonstrate that whatever analytical results are provided are reliable. 9. Comment: ...the inclusion of a "material balance" is not clearly understood and needs further clarification....If included [it] would also be more appropriately placed in RESULTS/DISCUSSION. ------- -5- Response: Material balance, or "Recovery of Applied Material", allows the reviewer to assess whether the starting material is properly accounted for or was mostly lost during the experiment. It may be placed in RESULTS/DISCUSSION. For further information, Subdivision N of the Pesticide Assessment Guidelines should be consulted. It is also available frcm the National Technical Information Service. 10. Commenti The statement "if conditions allow the use of radiolabeled material" contradicts the current...guidelines which state, "This study shall be conducted using the radioactively labeled analytical grade of the active ingredient." Response; The canmenter is correct. 11. Camnent: The request for pan evaporation data for a confined crop rotation studies [sic] appears totally irrelevant and should be eliminated. It appears that more is being built into this test than necessary for making the basic decision... Response; If the study is done under confined conditions in the field, such data is relevant. Under other circumstances, it would not be required. 12. Garment: "Figures/photographs of specialized equipment used" is a reasonable requirement. "Figures/photographs of the equipment used" is an excessive requirement. Response: We agree. 13. Comment: Flow diagrams can be adequately placed in Section [TABLES/FIGURES] . Inclusion [in Analytical Methods] should be optional. Response: This material may be placed in the report in the section which is most advantageous for efficient review. ------- -6- 14. Ccmment: Results of analyses of crop/soil samples would be placed in Results/ Tables/Figures sections. Response: We agree. 15. Ccmment: The request to place tables and figures [in RESULTS/DISCUSSION] is confusing. A separate Section...has been set aside for this data. Clarification is needed. Response: Brief tables and figures may be included in RESULTS if desired, longer ones in the specially designated section. 16. Comment: Summaries of structures/chemical names are located in [TABLES/FIGURES] . To include them in [RESULTS/DISCUSSION] would be redundant. Response: Material in the report need not be presented more than once. 17. Ccmment: A map of the site, describing the location of the test plot, is requested... Seme indication as to what kind of map is expected should be given.. .would a road map with the location circled be considered sufficient? Response: A map with sufficient detail to allow precise location of the test plot should be provided. 18. Ccmment: ...the draft refers to "The composition of the formulated product used..." The regulations and guidelines indicate that pure radiolabeled material be used (PAIRA), not formulated product. Response: We agree. 19. Ccmment: ...the draft states "Include here results of the analysis of the ------- -7- control plots." Control plots are inappropriate for radiolabeled studies and since radiolabeled materials must be used, this is not appropriate to include. Response: The applicant must, at minimum, demonstrate that the test soil does not contain radioactivity from some previous source. Further, control crops, if grown, may be used for field spiking recovery tests. 20. Comment: Characterization of Radioactivity: ...Rf (TLC) and Rt (HPLC) values should be provided for parent chemical and metabolites - but only if the techniques are utilized in the study. Response; We agree. 21. Canment: Characterization of Radioactivity: The requirement for metabolites comprising 10% of the total terminal residue to be identified should also be accompanied by concentration limits (e.g., 0.100 ppn equivalent to parent chemical). Often a 10% level of radioactive residue may equate to a level of mass which is beyond the limits of the analytical chemist to identify. Response: An applicant is not required to identify undetectable levels of residues. Levels of detectability will vary with each different parent compound. 22. Comment: We recommend the statement that, "the registrant should take note that the crop and soil samples are to be analyzed for the [laboratory soil metabolism] degradation products...and possibly...products found...in...hydrolysis studies and photolysis studies" be replaced with the following: "The registrants should note that crop samples are to be analyzed for levels of radiolabeled residues. Significant radiolabeled residues in crops should be characterized further. The relationship to [sic] the products found in the rotation crop(s) to the degradation products found from other plant metabolism and environ- mental fate studies (soil metabolism, hydrolysis and photolysis) should be presented if such information is known at the time of the writing of the confined crop rotation report." Response: A variation of the suggested text has been incorporated. ------- -8- 23. Garment: ...the phrase "and toxicological significance" should be deleted. A residue study is not designed to address the toxicological questions nor would the study director of this type of study generally be qualified to make such an assessment. Further, toxicological significance of any residue would be largely unknown until all of the required toxico- logical evaluations have been completed. Response: This information is highly useful to environmental fate reviewers and others. It should be provided if possible. 24. Comment; Toxicological significance of the residues is beyond the scope of this study. Instead, the conclusions section of this study report should provide a short summary of the significant findings, including the identification and levels of residues, and a brief comparison of these findings to those which were found or expected based on previous plant metabolism studies. Response: The applicant should provide the information suggested by the cammenter above, and whatever toxicology information is available. 25. torment: In confined rotational crop studies, the identity of the metabolites present in the commodity is unknown. Thus it is not possible to conduct reliable storage stability studies as can be done for residue studies. A sentence indicating that samples should be kept frozen until analysis is suggested. It should also be recommended that efforts should be made to analyze the samples as rapidly as feasible after harvest. Response: Use of standard recovery techniques such as analysis of experimental samples in parallel with appropriate "field-spiked" samples may be helpful. Holding samples in the frozen state, and analyzing as soon as feasible are certainly recommended as good techniques. 26. Comment: The implication...is that retention of samples need not be discussed if the registrant plans no further work. Clarification of this would be helpful. ------- -9- Response: The statement has been revised. 27. Canment: It...seans irrelevant to provide a description of what is done to the plot after it is harvested. Response: The applicant should describe plot (or container) treatment through- out the experimental period. This includes a period after harvest of the treated crop. 28. Garment; A discussion of utility or adequacy of proposed enforcement methodology for handling metabolites [should be] addressed...in Residue Chemistry reports. [It] should be optional in Metabolism studies. Response: Accuracy and precision of any analytical method(s) used in the study should be described in the report. They may incidentally also be enforcement methods. 29. Camient: The need for inclusion of tables and figures [in the APPENDIX] seems redundant. Response: Material need only be included once per report. GUIDELINE TITLE/COVER PAGE Title page and additional documentation requirements (i.e., requirements for data submission and statement of data confidentiality claims), if relevant to the study report, must precede the content of the study formatted below. These requirements are described in PR Notice 86-5. TABLE OF CONTENTS This page should indicate the overall organization of the study, including tables and figures. The Table of Contents must follow the title, data confidentiality, and GLP (if appropriate) pages. ------- -10- I. ABSTRACT This section should contain the overall summary of the study addressing the following points: A. The chemical (use the name used throughout the report and indicate the formulation) was applied according to customary practice to the treatment site. Structures of the chemical and primary breakdown products may be included here. B. The treatment area was maintained according to customary practice. C. A table similar to the following with an appropriate title: Days after Residues (ppm) Application Total Parent Products [may need to name plant tissue and quantify products singly] D. A discussion of unexpected problems (such as technical difficulties or unusual weather) which necessitated deviations frcm the intended test protocol and a description of the effects of these deviations on the results of the study; and E. Provide a name and a phone number of a contact person in the event the reviewer has technical questions about the study. [This is optional. Provision of this information will facilitate efficient review in case of questions.] II. INTRODUCTION This section should open with a description of the purpose of the study, what requirement it is intended to satisfy and (if applicable) how it supports the position of the registrant. Background and historical information relative to the study should be placed in this section. hi. materials/Methods The applicant may elect to describe materials and methods in separate sections or combine into a single section. The following format combines the two into one section. This section should be in narrative form. All details with regard to the materials, equipment, experimental design, test plots or containers, procedures used in conducting the study, and drawings and photographs of the plot or container, of equipment and of different phases of the study should be placed in this section. In addition, the following are to be included, when appropriate: A. Chemical Provide the purity of the material, its activity in Curies/mole, ------- -11- disintegrations per minute per gram (dpm/g), and the site of radio- labeling. B. Site 1. If test plots are used: a. Provide a map describing location, topography and size, and location and size of any control plots in relation to the test plots; and an indication of whether the test plot contains a subsurface drainage system; b. Describe the means by which the test material is confined in the areas surrounding the test plantings—e.g. aluminum pipe sunk in the ground; c. Provide the soil characteristics (% sand, % silt, % clay, % organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity, and moisture capacity) of the plot; d. Provide also a complete record of daily temperature, daily rainfall and pan evaporation data throughout the study and how they compare to temperature and rainfall over the past 10 years at the test site based on records from the nearest weather station; and e. Include crop and pesticide use history on the plot for the three year period preceding the study. 2. If test containers are used, provide information on the size of the containers; amount of soil, its type and characteristics as detailed in "1." above, its pesticide use history if kncwn, and other distinctive details. C. Test Method 1. General a. The date and technique of plot or container preparation prior to pesticide application; and the identity of the treated crop, if applicable; b. A description of how and when the treated crop was planted; c. A description of how and when the pesticide was applied; the ambient conditions at the time of application; the application rate and the application technique; also, similar descriptions for each of any additional applications made; information on how much pesticide was applied in comparison to actual use rates; and if application technique differed from label recommendations; d. A description of any post-treatment crop maintenance such ------- -12- as use of fertilizers and other pesticides, irrigation (when applied and hew much), tilling, weeding, watering, etc.; e. A description of the crop sampling technique, procedure and devices used; and the date of harvest of the treated crop; f. A description of the soil sampling technique, depth of sampling, procedure and devices used and the pre- and post-application soil sampling schedule; the date of harvest of the treated crop; and the description of what was done to the plot after harvest of the treated crop before planting of the rotational crop, during planting of the rotational crop, and during its growth; g. Identity of the rotational crops planted should be placed in this section. Also, provide a description of the procedure used in planting the rotational crops; the number of days between treatment of the initial crop with the pesticide and planting of the rotational crop; and a description of all procedures used in the maintenance of the rotational crcps (as done for the treated crop), sampling method and how many samples/replicates were taken. All dates should be provided in terms of "days from pesticide application." h. A description of the source of irrigation water, where applicable; i. A description of the handling of the crop and soil samples from the time of taking of the samples until analysis with special attention to the conditions under which they were stored and the thawing procedure (if frozen); in addition, the storage stability data to be used in determining if the pesticide residues are stable under the storage conditions; and the dates the samples were frozen, thawed and analyzed. j. Information on how long samples will be retained and under what conditions they will be retained (in the event additional analytical work is necessary); and k. An elaboration on any difficulties or special problems that arose during the study which necessitated deviation from the intended test protocol and on the effects the deviations had on the results. 2. Analytical Method(s) a. The full description of each method used in this study should be placed in this section. Note that methods for degradation products, when appropriate, are included. This section should also include the method validation data, recovery and limit of detection data, quality control procedures and results, sample chromatograms, sample ------- -13- calculations and a material balance. The detailed descrip- tion of the procedures used in preparation and handling of the sairple throughout the method should also be placed here. 2. The identity of the instrumentation, equipment and reagents used and the operating conditions of the instrumentation; 3. Figures/photographs of any special equipment used in the methods; and flow diagrams of particularly complex extraction/ clean-up procedures are to be included here; and 4. The results of analyses of all crop and soil core samples or composites. IV. RESULTS/DISCUSSION A. This section should contain the scientific results of the study, for instance; 1. Narrative and tables describing the steps taken in determining the pesticide residues in the crop and soil samples should be presented here in addition to the graphical presentations of the data (accompanied by the tables of the actual values fran which the graphs were constructed). 2. Include here results of the analysis of any control plots. The registrant should note that the crop and soil samples for both control and treated plots and/or containers are to be analyzed for levels of radioactive residues. 3. Significant residues should be characterized further, with special attention to known degradates from plant metabolism, soil metabolism, hydrolysis and photolysis. B . This section should contain the table of structures and chemical names/ designations for the parent compound and degradation products discussed in the study. V. CONCLUSION This section should contain the discussion of the magnitude and toxicological significance of the residues of parent and degradates found in the rotational crcps. VI. CERTIFICATION A. Signatures of each of the senior scientific personnel responsible for the study; and 3. Certification by the applicant that the report is a complete and unaltered copy of the report provided by the testing facility (except for title page changes required by PR Notice 86-5). t ------- -14- VII. TABLES/FIGURES It is recommended that tables and figures be numbered using arabic numerals for figures and roman numerals for tables. VIII. REFERENCES IX. APPENDIX(ES) At the registrant's option, reprints of methods and other studies, raw data, copies of relevant letters/memos and material which will help support the registrant's conclusions, but do not fit in any of the other sections, should be placed in an appendix. ------- 50272-101 REPORT DOCUMENTATION »• REPORT no. 2. PAGE IS 4. Title and Subtitle ADDENDUM 7 ON DATA REPORTING TO PESTICIDE ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES Confined Accumulation Studies on Rotational Crops 3. nepon un* March 1988 6. 7. Author(s) E. Brinson Conerly and Samuel M. Creeger 8. Performing Organization Rept. No. 9. Performing Organization Name and Address U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 0PP/HED (TS-769C) 401 M St. S.W. Washington, D.C. 20460 10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 11. Contract(C) or Grant(G) No. (C) (G) 12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address Same as #9 13. Type of Report & Period Covered 14. 15. Supplementary Notes ADDENDUM 7 to Pesticide Assessment Guidelines, Subdivision N, Chemistry: Environmental Fate (EPA-540/9-82-021 and NTIS Order Number PB83-153973), October, 1982 16. Abstract (Limit: 200 words) The Data Reporting Guideline (DRG) for Confined Accumulation Studies on Rotational Crops, Series 165-1, gives guidance to pesticide registrants on the format for their study report so that the Agency can review it efficiently. This guidance clarifies sections in the existing Pesticides Assessment Guidelines, Subdivision N, on data reporting. It provides an outline for the study report and describes the topics which should be addressed such as a description of the test plots or containers used, soil characteristics, weather, pesticide use history, post-treatment crop maintenance, sampling or harvesting techniques, soil sampling, the analytical method, and the handling and analysis of samples and provides guidance on the presentation of the results of the study. Data submitters can use the DRG in preparing their reports for submission to EPA to meet 40 CFR 158 requirements for the registration of pesticides. ,The DRG for Series 165-1, Confined Accumulation Studies on Rotational Crops, is only one of a number of DRG's published by the National Technical Information Service as an addendum to Subdivision N of the Pesticide Assessment Guidelines. 17. Document Analysis a. Descriptors b. identifiers/Open-Ended Terms c. COSATI Field/Group 18. Availability Statement Unclassified and freely available 19. Security Class (This Report) Unclassified 21. No. of Pages 17 20. Security Class (Jhj< Page) Unclassifiea 22. Price (See ANSI—Z39.18) See Instructions on Reverse OPTIONAL FORM 272 (4—77) (Formerly NTIS-35) Department of Commerce ------- |