The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to ban Acephate and keep it for injectable use only in trees

Recently, The U.S. EPA has issued a draft interim decision (PID) on Acephate, which calls for the elimination of all but one use of the chemical. The agency noted that the proposal is based on a draft human health risk assessment updated in August 2023, as well as drinking water assessments, which reveal the potential for significant dietary risks in drinking water from currently registered uses of Acephate. The EPA also noted that the proposed ban would mitigate risks to workers, home owners and the environment.

Acephate, an organophosphate insecticide, has been widely used in agricultural fields, including cotton and soybean cultivation, as well as non-agricultural fields since it was registered by the EPA in 1973. Acephate interacts with the nervous system by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE). EPA notes that this mechanism of action gives Acephate the ability to kill insects efficiently. However, this effect may also affect mammals, including humans, depending on the individual's level of exposure. According to the federal agency EPA, inhibition of AChE is the most sensitive indicator of health effects when evaluating the human health effects of Acephate exposure.

The EPA conducted an assessment of the use and pest control benefits of Acephate in soybean production, and the agency reported that the insecticide was used almost exclusively on soybeans in the south-central states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Although Acephate is a small part of insect pest management programs nationwide, with less than 2 percent of the area applied, in the South Central region, Acephate covers 19 percent of soybean acreage.

Although the EPA's proposed Preliminary Determination (PID) on Acephate recommended eliminating most of its uses, the agency retained the insecticide's use for tree injections. The EPA said the practice does not increase the risk of exposure to drinking water, poses no hazard to workers and, through the labeling change, poses no threat to the environment. EPA emphasized that tree injections allow insecticides to flow through trees and effectively control pests, but only for trees that do not produce fruit for human consumption. 

Public reaction to the news of the proposed agricultural ban on Acephate has been mixed.

"I am concerned about the impact our farms and communities may face as a result of the Acephate ban," said Luke Sayes, director of the American Soybean Association (ASA) in Louisiana. "We currently have very limited tools to combat destructive pests such as red-banded stink bugs, which can cause significant yield losses if not managed effectively."

Nathan Donley, director of environmental health sciences at the Center for Biological Diversity, said: "Acephate should be permanently eliminated, and we are extremely grateful that EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs has taken action to eliminate this extremely dangerous pesticide. The ban on Acephate is a good thing."

The EPA said Acephate is going through its standard registration review process. The revised draft Human Health Risk Assessment, Drinking Water Assessment and PID are now open for public comment for 60 days, with a deadline of July 1, 2024. The public may propose alternative mitigation measures for some or all uses of the insecticide, Acephate, for EPA's consideration.

EPA will respond to these comments in its interim decision. If the agency determines that the alternative mitigation to which the registrant voluntarily agrees addresses the identified risks and meets the criteria for continuing to register the pesticide, this could allow EPA to implement the protection more quickly than the legally required involuntary cancellation process, which can take up to five years.