Assessment of Pyrethroids' Safety Factor Under FQPA Standards in 2019
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reconsidering the use of a threefold (3X) Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) Safety Factor for pyrethroid pesticides, a move that could have significant implications for human health risk assessments.
The EPA's decision to re-evaluate the FQPA safety factor for pyrethroids is based on a comprehensive review of new data. This re-evaluation is part of the ongoing human health risk assessments for these pesticides, which are widely used in agriculture.
The FQPA, enacted in 1996, amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require the EPA to apply an additional tenfold safety factor, known as the "FQPA safety factor," when establishing pesticide residue tolerances to protect infants and children. This safety factor accounts for uncertainties related to prenatal and postnatal toxicity and exposure data gaps.
For pyrethroids, the EPA historically applied this FQPA safety factor during risk assessments to address potential neurotoxic effects and children's susceptibility. Over time, the EPA has periodically re-evaluated pyrethroids under its registration review program, which is mandated to occur every 15 years, reassessing the adequacy of the safety factor based on new scientific data.
The EPA's reliance on industry-submitted toxicity data has been a point of scrutiny, with critics raising concerns about data manipulation and transparency. However, the FQPA framework remains central to balancing pesticide use with public safety, especially for vulnerable populations like children.
In light of the new data, the EPA has concluded that reducing the total FQPA safety factor for pyrethroids to 1X will be protective for infants and children. This means that the agency is considering a reduction in the safety factor from 3X to 1X, a move that could lead to changes in the tolerance levels for pyrethroid pesticides.
The EPA's re-evaluation of the FQPA safety factor for pyrethroids is a reflection of the evolving understanding of pesticide toxicity and exposure risks. It underscores the agency's commitment to ensuring that public health protections reflect the latest scientific understanding.
[1] National Academy of Sciences. (2003). Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. [2] Environmental Defense Fund. (2007). Kids on the Front Line: How Pesticides Are Impacting Our Children's Health. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. [3] Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). Pyrethroid Pesticides: Registration Review Decision Documents. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/pyrethroid-pesticides-registration-review-decision-documents [4] United States Government Accountability Office. (2016). Pesticides: EPA Has Taken Steps to Address Challenges in its Registration Review Program, but More Work is Needed. Washington, DC: Government Accountability Office.
- The EPA's reconsideration of the 3X Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) Safety Factor for pyrethroid pesticides could influence health-and-wellness discussions, as this decision may impact the assessment of potential risks to human health.
- In the realm of science and therapies-and-treatments, the EPA's re-evaluation of the FQPA safety factor for pyrethroids showcases its ongoing commitment to adapting public health protections based on new data and evolving understandings of pesticide toxicity and exposure risks.
