U.S. EPA Employs Sciences' model for fumigant risk assessments.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs is currently evaluating the risks associated with soil fumigants for the re-registration of existing compounds and the registration of a new active material, iodomethane. One of the principal issues associated with soil fumigants is the potential exposure to bystanders from off-gassing following application. The EPA is considering the need for buffer zones around the fields to provide a restricted entry-zone after applications to prevent potentially harmful exposures.

EPA recently published draft risk assessments for several soil fumigants http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/soil_fumigants/commentors_guide.htm). In these assessments, EPA utilized the Probabilistic Exposure and Risk model for FUMigants (PERFUM). PERFUM was developed by Sciences with sponsorship from Arysta LifeScience North America, the registrant for iodomethane. The model was favorably evaluated by an EPA FIFRA Science Advisory Panel in August of 2004, and selected by EPA over several other options for use in the recent risk assessments. The model is available for download at the EPA website (http://www.epa.gov/opphed01/models/fumigant/).

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