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Updates from the Daily News Blog

Agricultural Herbicide Use Threatens Oak Trees
June 14, 2017

Congress Continues Attacks on Clean Water Act Protections
June 5, 2015

Agricultural Insecticides Exceed Regulatory Limits in Surface Water on Global Scale
April 16, 2015

Levels of Pesticides Still a Concern for Aquatic Life in U.S. Rivers and Streams
September 12, 2014

Report Finds Pesticide Residues in Hawaii’s Waterways
May 28, 2014

Unregulated Contaminants Found Widespread in U.S. Drinking Water
December 13, 2013

USDA Study Finds Higher Rates of Herbicide Volatilization Than Expected
July 19, 2011

Study Finds Low Pesticide Concentrations Can Become Toxic Mixture
November 17, 2008

Persistent Pesticides Detected in Groundwater Again
October 27, 2008

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Metolachlor

General Information

• Product Names:
  Dual Magnum (Syngenta)
  Pennant Magnum (Syngenta)
  Boundary (Syngenta) formulated with Metribuzin
  Camix (Syngenta) formulated with Mestorione
  Lumax (Syngenta) formulated with Atrazine, and Mesotrione
  Sequence (Syngenta) formulated with Glyphosate
  Prefix (Syngenta) formulated with Fomesafen Sodium
  Cinch (Du Pont)
  Charger (Winfield)

• Chemical Class: Chloroacetanilide herbicide
• Uses: Control of grass and grasslike weeds and broadleaf weeds on terrestrial food crops: cabbage, pepper, radish and stone fruits; terrestrial food and feed crops: corn, cotton, legume vegetables, peanuts, peas, potato, safflower, sorghum, soybeans, treenuts, alfalfa (feed only); terrestrial non-food crops and outdoor residential: Rights-of-Way, golf courses, recreational areas and lawns, nonbearing fruits, ornamental and/or shade trees, ornamental plants and flowers, residential lawns; forest trees.
• Alternatives: Organic agriculture
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Possible (8)
• Endocrine Disruption: Suspected (43)
• Reproductive Effects: Yes (4)
• Neurotoxicity: Not documented
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Yes (4)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes (4)
• Birth/Developmental: Not documented
• Detected in Groundwater: Frequently (37)
• Potential Leacher: Not documented
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Bees: Not documented

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (4/1995)
• Supporting information:
  • Extoxnet Metolachlor Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
  • PAN Pesticide Database – Metolachlor (Pesticide Action Network)
• Studies:
• 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.
• Cancer incidence among pesticide applicators exposed to metolachlor in the Agricultural Health Study. Rusiecki, J.A., et al. 2006. Int J Cancer 118(12):3118-3123.