Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management

Updates from the Daily News Blog

Commonly Used Neurotoxic Pesticide Exposure Increases ALS Risk to Workers and Residents
September 30, 2021

More Scientific Evidence that Endocrine-Disrupting Pesticides Disrupt Thyroid Function
September 10, 2021

Study Finds Recently Banned, Common Insecticide Promotes Obesity Development, and Related Illnesses
September 2, 2021

Tell EPA to Ban ALL Uses of Chlorpyrifos
August 30, 2021

Commentary: Are Children, Agricultural Workers, and the Food Supply Safe with EPA's Chlorpyrifos Decision?
August 19, 2021

Biden EPA Reapproves Paraquat with Weaker Protections than Trump Administration Proposed
August 10, 2021

Commentary: Will Playing Fields, Parks, and Lawns Be Safe After Glyphosate in Roundup Residential Use Ends in 2023?
July 30, 2021

Insecticide Chlorpyrifos Interacts with Genes to Increase Autism Risk, Research Finds
July 20, 2021

Parents of Harmed Children Sue Manufacturer of Brain-Damaging Insecticide Chlorpyrifos
July 14, 2021

Inspector General Blasts Trump’s Politicized EPA, No Announced Plans to Reverse Unscientific Decisions
May 28, 2021

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Chlorpyrifos

General Information

• Fact Sheet: Chlorpyrifos.pdf
• Product Names:

  Chemsico roach control (Chemiso)
  Pyrinex mole cricket bait (Micro-Flo)
  Dursban (Dow AgroSciences)
  Lorsban (Dow AgroSciences)
  Ortho Ant Stop (Solaris Group), formulated with Calcium silicate, Aromatic petroleum distillates
  Ortho Dursban Lawn & Garden Insect Control (Solaris Group), formulated with Calcium silicate
  Bonide Termite & Carpenter Ant Dust (Bonide Products)
  Raid Ant Bait (SC Johnson)
  Hot Shot Maxattrax Roach Bait (Spectrum Brands) 

• Chemical Class: Organophosphate insecticide
• Uses: food and feed crops, golf courses, as a non-structural wood treatment, and as an adult mosquitocide
• Alternatives: Agriculture, Nonresidential buildings
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Not documented
• Endocrine Disruption: Yes (30)
• Reproductive Effects: Yes (6)
• Neurotoxicity: Yes (8)
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Yes (17)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes (4)
• Birth/Developmental: Yes (6)
• Detected in Groundwater: Yes (6)
• Potential Leacher: Yes (6)
• Toxic to Birds: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Yes (8, 111)
• Toxic to Bees: Yes (8)

Residential Uses as Found in the ManageSafe™ Database

• Tree-boring Caterpillars
• Wasps and Yellowjackets
• Carpenter Bees
• Cockroaches
• Bed Bugs
• Ticks

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • Tolerance Revocations: Chlorpyrifos (2021)
  • Beyond Pesticides' California Department of Pesticide Regulation Human Health Effects comments (2017)
  • Beyond Pesticides' comments on EPA Tolerance Revocations (2017)
  • EPA denies a petition requesting that EPA revoke all tolerances for the pesticide chlorpyrifos (2017)
  • EPA Requests for Columbia Study's Data (2017)
  • Revised 2016 Human Health Risk Assessment
  • NMFS Biological Opinion for Pesticides: Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, and Malathion (2017)
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (7/2006)
  • Beyond Pesticides' EPA Risk Assessment comments (2000)
• Supporting information:
  • Daily News Blog entries (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Widely Used Pesticide in Food Production Damages Children’s Brains (Beyond Pesticides, 2017)
  • Asthma, Children and Pesticides (Beyond Pesticides)
  • The Low Down on Dursban (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Alternatives to Using Chlorpyrifos (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Safer Choice (Beyond Pesticides)
  • NCAP Chlorpyrifos Factsheet (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides)
  • Extoxnet Chlorpyrifos Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
  • PAN Pesticides Database:Chlorpyrifos (Pesticide Action Network)
• Studies:
  • Effects of chlorpyrifos on the crustacean Litopenaeus vannamei Duarte-Restrepo, E., Jaramillo-Colorado, B.E. and Duarte-Jaramillo, L., 2020. PloS one, 15(4), p.e0231310.
  • Brain anomalies in children exposed prenatally to a common organophosphate pesticide. Rauh VA, Perera FP, Horton MK, et al. 2012. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 109(20):7871-6.
  • Chlorpyrifos exposure and urban residential environment characteristics as determinants of early childhood neurodevelopment. Lovasi GS, Quinn JW, Rauh VA, et al. 2011. Am J Public Health. 101(1):63-70.
  • Impact of prenatal chlorpyrifos exposure on neurodevelopment in the first 3 years of life among inner-city children. Rauh VA, Garfinkel R, Perera FP, et al. 2006. Pediatrics.118(6):e1845-59.
  • Long-term sex selective hormonal and behavior alterations in mice exposed to low doses of chlorpyrifos in utero. Haviland, J. A., Butz, D. E., Porter, W.P. 2009. Reproductive Toxicology. 29(1):74-79
  • Top 15 Farmworker Poison
  • 7-Year Neurodevelopmental Scores and Prenatal Exposure to Chlorpyrifos, a Common Agricultural Pesticide. Rauh V, Arunajadai S, Horton M, Perera F, Hoepner L, Barr DB, et al. 2011. Environ Health Perspect. doi:10.1289/ehp.1003160
  • A pilot study of pesticides and PCBs in the breast milk of women residing in urban and agricultural communities of California.. Weldon RH, Barr DB, Trujillo C, et al. 2011. J Environ Monit. 13(11):3136-44.
  • Acute exposure to chlorpyrifos caused NADPH oxidase mediated oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in a striatal cell model of Huntington’s disease. Dominah, G.A., McMinimy, R.A., Kallon, S. and Kwakye, G.F., 2017. Neurotoxicology, 60, pp.54-69.
  • ADHD-like behaviour in the offspring of female rats exposed to low chlorpyrifos doses before pregnancy. Grabovska S, Salyha Y. 2015. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 66(2):121-7
  • Adulthood dietary exposure to a common pesticide leads to an obese-like phenotype and a diabetic profile in apoE3 mice.. Peris-Sampedro F, Cabré M, Basaure P, Reverte I, et al. 2015. Environ Res. 142:169-76
  • Agreement of pesticide biomarkers between morning void and 24-h urine samples from farmers and their children. Scher, D. et al. 2007, J. Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology; 17, 350–357
  • Assessment of genetic effects and pesticide exposure of farmers in NW Greece. Moshou, H., Karakitsou, A., Yfanti, F., Hela, D., Vlastos, D., Paschalidou, A.K., Kassomenos, P. and Petrou, I., 2020. Environmental Research, p.109558.
  • Anthropogenic stressors impact fish sensory development and survival via thyroid disruption. Besson, M., Feeney, W.E., Moniz, I., François, L., Brooker, R.M., Holzer, G., Metian, M., Roux, N., Laudet, V. and Lecchini, D., 2020. Nature communications, 11(1), pp.1-10.
  • Potential short-term neurobehavioral alterations in children associated with a peak pesticide spray season: The Mother’s Day flower harvest in Ecuador. Suarez-Lopez, J.R., Checkoway, H., Jacobs Jr, D.R., Al-Delaimy, W.K. and Gahagan, S., 2017. Neurotoxicology, 60, pp.125-133.
  • Assessing Field‐Scale Risks of Foliar Insecticide Applications to Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Larvae. Krishnan, N., Zhang, Y., Bidne, K.G., Hellmich, R.L., Coats, J.R. and Bradbury, S.P., 2020. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 39(4), pp.923-941.
  • Prenatal and infant exposure to ambient pesticides and autism spectrum disorder in children: population based case-control study. von Ehrenstein, et al. 2019. BMJ 2019;364:l962
  • Biomonitoring of persons exposed to insecticides used in residences. Krieger, R.I., Bernard, C.E., Dinoff, T.M., Ross J.H. and Williams R.L. 2001. Ann Occup Hyg, 45 (suppl 1): S143-S153. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/45.suppl_1.S143
  • Blood α-synuclein in agricultural pesticide handlers in central Washington State.. Searles Nielsen S, Checkoway H, Zhang J, et al. 2015. Environ Res.136:75-81.
  • Brain anomalies in children exposed prenatally to a common organophosphate pesticide. Rauh, V. A., F. P. Perera, M. K. Horton, R. M. Whyatt, et al. 2012. PNAS.109 (20): 7871-6.
  • Cancer Incidence Among Pesticide Applicators Exposed to Chlorpyrifos in the Agricultural Health Study. Lee WJ, et al. 2004. J Natl Cancer Inst. 96(23):1781-9.
  • Children's Exposure to Chlorpyrifos and Parathion in an Agricultural Community in Central Washington State. Fenske, R.A., Lu, C, Barr, D, and Needham, L. 2002. Environ Health Perspect. 11(5):: 549–553
  • Chlorpyrifos (Dursban)-associated birth defects: report of four cases.. Sherman, J.D. 1996. Environmental Health Perspectives, 51(1).
  • Chlorpyrifos Exposure and Urban Residential Environment Characteristics as Determinants of Early Childhood Neurodevelopment. Lovasi , G. et al. 2010. Am J Public Health. AJPH.2009.168419v1
  • Chlorpyrifos inhibits cell proliferation through ERK1/2 phosphorylation in breast cancer cell lines.. Ventura C, Venturino A, Miret N, et al. 2015. Chemosphere. 120:343-50.
  • Chronic chlorpyrifos exposure does not promote prostate cancer in prostate specific PTEN mutant mice.. Svensson RU, Bannick NL, Marin MJ, et al. 2013. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol.32(1):29-39
  • Chronic chlorpyrifos exposure elicits diet-specific effects on metabolism and the gut microbiome in rats.. Fang B, Li JW, Zhang M, Ren FZ, Pang GF. 2018. Food Chem Toxicol. 111:144-152
  • Combined Prenatal Pesticide Exposure and Folic Acid Intake in Relation to Autism Spectrum Disorder.. Schmidt RJ, Kogan V, Shelton JF, Delwiche L, Hansen RL, et al. 2017. Environ Health Perspect. 125(9):097007.
  • Comparison of residents' pesticide exposure with predictions obtained using the UK regulatory exposure assessment approach.. Galea KS, MacCalman L, Jones K, Cocker J, et al. 2015. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol.73(2):634-43.
  • Developmental neurotoxic effects of two pesticides: Behavior and biomolecular studies on chlorpyrifos and carbaryl.. Lee I, Eriksson P, Fredriksson A, et al. 2015. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. pii: S0041-008X(15)30066-1.
  • Developmental neurotoxicity of chlorpyrifos modeled in vitro: Comparative effects of metabolites and other cholinesterase inhibitors on DNA synthesis in PC12 and C6 cells.. Qiao, D. et al. 2001. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109(9):909-913.
  • Developmental neurotoxicity of different pesticides in PC-12 cells in vitro.. Christen V, Rusconi M, Crettaz P, Fent K. 2017. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 325:25-36
  • Dietary Intake and Its Contribution to Longitudinal Organophosphorus Pesticide Exposure in Urban/suburban Children.. Lu C, Barr DB, Pearson MA, Waller LA. 2008. Environ Health Perspect. 216(4):537-42.
  • Does early-life exposure to organophosphate insecticides lead to prediabetes and obesity. Slotkin, T.A. 2011. Reproductive Toxicology. 31: 297–301.
  • Does the home environment and the sex of the child modify the adverse effects of prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos on child working memory?. Horton, M.K., L.G. Kahn, F. Perera, D.B. Barr and V. Rauh. 2012. Neurotoxicology and Teratology. 34(5):534-41
  • Early-life chemical exposures and risk of metabolic syndrome.. De Long NE, Holloway AC. 2017. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 10:101-109.
  • Effects of maternal chlorpyrifos diet on social investigation and brain neuroendocrine markers in the offspring - a mouse study.. Venerosi A, Tait S, Stecca L, et al. 2015. Environ Health. 14:32.
  • Effects of occupational exposure to chlorpyrifos on neuropsychological function: a prospective longitudinal study. Berent S, Giordani B, Albers JW, Garabrant DH, et al. 2014. Neurotoxicology. 41:44-53
  • Effects of processing on pesticide residues in peaches intended for baby food.. Balinova AM, Mladenova RI, Shtereva DD. 2006. Food Addit Contam.23(9):895-901
  • Effects of Transplacental Exposure to Environmental Pollutants on Birth Outcomes in a Multiethnic Population.. Perera, F. et al. Feb. 2003. Environmental Health Perspectives, 111(2).
  • Exposure to nonpersistent insecticides and male reproductive hormones.. Meeker JD, et al. 2006. Epidemiology;17(1):61-8
  • Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009. Atlanta, GA.
  • Gestational/perinatal chlorpyrifos exposure is not associated with autistic-like behaviors in rodents. Williams AL, DeSesso JM. 2014. Crit Rev Toxicol. 44(6):523-34
  • Impact of Prenatal Chlorpyrifos Exposure on Neurodevelopment in the First 3 Years of Life Among Inner-City Children. Rauh, V. et al. 2006. Pediatrics, 118(6) pp. e1845-e1859