Diazinon to disappear from stores' shelves

Home Channel News, March 5, 2001 by Brae Canlen

Sales, distribution of the insecticide to retailers ends in August 2003

NATIONAL REPORT -- The arsenal against household and garden pests continues to dwindle as chemical manufacturers, under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency, are ceasing to produce another highly effective -- and highly toxic -- pesticide. The latest elimination is diazinon, one of the more widely used insecticides in the United States.

The planned diazinon phaseout begins this month, when Syngenta and Makhteshim Agan, two chemical manufacturers responsible for 75 percent of diazinon production, stop making the product for indoor use. The majority of these treatments involve crack and crevice applications within the home.

For lawn, garden, and turf uses -- where diazinon is mostly applied -- sales and distribution to retailers will end in August 2003. A manufacturer buy-back program will go into effect in 2004, although most supplies should be depleted by then. In an effort to wean consumers off the use of diazinon, the two chemical companies will begin ratcheting down production next year.

The EPA agreement permits certain agricultural uses of diazinon, which accounts for about 20 percent of its production. California, Texas and Florida are the states with the most significant overall use, according to the EPA.

Diazinon belongs to an older class of pesticides, called organophosphates, which were developed during World War II. It interferes with the nervous systems of insects, and the EPA believes that the pesticide poses a similar risk to young children. Broadcast application of diazinon on lawns and turf -- residentially and commercially -- is believed to be responsible for the death of many birds, including ducks, geese, hawks, songbirds and woodpeckers. Diazinon is also highly toxic to fish. Monitoring data show that diazinon is commonly found in surface water in urban areas owing to runoff from residential use.

Diazinon is the second organophosphate recently targeted by the federal regulators. Last June, the EPA announced a similar voluntary agreement with Dow AgroSciences, a subsidiary of Dow Chemical Co. that manufactured the active ingredient in Dursban. A more accelerated phase-out plan for Dursban halted domestic production last December. Retailers have until the end of this year to sell through their stocks of Dursban, although many have already pulled the product from their shelves.

Ironically, many consumers substituted diazinon, which kills both insects and grub worms, for Dursban. Brands containing diazinon include Spectracide, Real-Kill, Hot Shots, and No Pest.

Ortho products, made by Scotts Co. of Columbus, Ohio, uses diazinon in 11 different products, including its popular Bug-B-Gon, available in granules and sprays. Scotts Turf Builder with Insect Control also contains the organophosphate. Company spokesman John Bosser said that Scotts has already begun reformulating these products. "We're going to try and do it ahead of schedule," Bosser added.

Nevertheless, manufacturers such as Scotts are dependent upon chemical companies to develop new and safer insecticides. So are retailers, whose stores are under pressure from environmental groups to take diazinon off of their shelves before the 2004 target date. National chains are trying to adopt an eco-friendly posture -- within reason.

"Wal-Mart's goal is to have the product sold [out] by Dec. 31, 2003, provided that a replacement chemistry is in place by the manufacturers," said company spokeswoman Karen Burk, who noted that this would put Wal-Mart a year ahead of the EPA's deadline.

Lowe's Cos. has already removed indoor-use diazinon products from its shelves, stated company spokeswoman Suzanne McCoy. "We plan to be well ahead of the EPA's schedule for outdoor products as well," she said. Lawn and garden sales associates are also carrying pocket reference cards that list less-toxic alternatives for Dursban and diazinon products, according to McCoy.