Description

This organophosphate insecticide has been widely used until recently in homes and buildings to control termites and roaches, on lawns and gardens, and in flea collars. It is also applied to many fruit, vegetable and other food crops. Due to the risks that chlorpyrifos poses to children’s health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began a phaseout of chlorpyrifos for use in homes, outdoor areas where children may be exposed, and some agricultural uses in June 2000. Chlorpyrifos products intended for almost all home uses, including on home lawns, as indoor crack and crevice (roach) treatments and whole-house termiticide treatments (post-construction), can no longer be sold to consumers. Children could be exposed to products purchased before December 31, 2001. Only ant and roach baits in child resistant packaging can be sold to consumers. Commercial operators will not be subject to such restrictions, though applications will not be permitted in schools, parks, and other areas where children might be exposed. Spot termite treatments (post-construction) were phased out by the end of 2002, and pre-construction applications were phased out by the end of 2005.

Health Effects

Immediate Health Effects

If SWALLOWED, chlorpyrifos is Very Highly Toxic
If ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN, chlorpyrifos is Highly Toxic
If INHALED (SNIFFED OR BREATHED IN), chlorpyrifos is Highly Toxic

Longterm or Delayed Health Effects

This chemical may cause cancer. It is considered a Possible Carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Neurotoxin = Can harm brain and central nervous system
Can damage DNA
Asthma and allergy Trigger

Other

Brain and nervous system effects, such as headache, nausea, cramps, dizziness, chest pain, excess salivation, difficulty breathing, muscle twitches, convulsions, confusion, and at high exposures, respiratory paralysis and death.
Other acute effects include anxiety and depression, restlessness, memory loss, confusion and bizarre behavior.
Can cause irreversible eye damage
Chronic effects include flu-like symptoms, persistent headaches, blurred vision, fatigue and muscle weakness.
Other chronic effects relate to mental functions, such as impaired memory, inability to concentrate, depression, disorientation, confusion, speech difficulty, delayed reaction times and irritability.
Exposure to chlorpyrifos and diazinon during pregnancy may result in smaller birth size, according to a 2004 study. Women with higher chlorpyrifos and diazinon levels in their blood and umbilical-cord blood gave birth to lighter, shorter babies, with birth weights increasing again after government restrictions on the two pesticides, the study found.

How Exposures Occur

Absorption Through Skin

Children may absorb chlorpyrifos residues through their skin by touching treated surfaces, pets, carpets, toys, dust and other items in the home, schools, day care centers, hospitals, and shopping centers.

Accidental Ingestion

Children may swallow chlorpyrifos by mouthing contaminated surfaces or by putting their hands in their mouths, or by putting treated soil or plants in their mouth.

Flea Collars

Children who play with pets wearing chlorpyrifos-containing flea collars may be exposed to levels of chlorpyrifos far above EPA’s safe dose.

From Food

Children may also be exposed to chlorpyrifos by eating foods with pesticide residues. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Data Program has found chlorpyrifos residues on apples, tomatoes, grapes and soybeans. EPA restrictions should reduce residues on food after the year 2000.

Inhalation

Children may draw the pesticide into their lung while breathing soon after spraying, or as the result of breathing in contaminated dust. Additionally, children can breathe in chlorpyrifos from carpets long after application, since the chemical lingers there.

Liquid Lawn Sprays

When used on home, school and park lawns, this form of chlorpyrifos can expose children to the highest levels above EPA’s safe dose.

Significant Statistics

About 10 million pounds of chlorpyrifos are applied annually in agricultural areas. The majority of it, 5.5 million pounds, is on corn.

Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision for Chlorpyrifos. US Environmental Protection Agency. February 2002. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/REDs/chlorpyrifos_red.pdf.

Chlorpyrifos is highly toxic to birds, fish and aquatic life and bees.

Chlorpyrifos: Technical Factsheet. National Pesticide Information Center. August 2009.

Children are effected much more than adults. Exposed children had more developmental delays and disorders than children who were not exposed. They also had a higher incidence of attention deficit disorders and hyperactivity disorders.

Chlorpyrifos: General Factsheet. National Pesticide Information Center. April 2010.

Solutions

How to detect chlorpyrifos

Read labels on all home and garden pesticides. If any list chlorpyrifos or Dursban or Lorsban as an ingredient, contact your local sanitation department or hazardous waste disposal program to find out how to dispose of it properly.

You can find out if chlorpyrifos is an ingredient in a particular pesticide product on Pesticide Action Network Pesticide Database.
Contact pesticide applicators. If your home or lawn was recently treated with pesticides and if any family members have since begun suffering from health effects that you suspect may be linked to exposure, contact the pesticide applicator and ask if any of the products used contained chlorpyrifos.
Food: There is no way for parents to determine exactly how much chlorpyrifos may be in their children’s food. You can get a rough idea of the fruits and vegetables that may contain chlorpyrifos from:

The Environmental Working Group’s Report Card: Pesticides in Produce

How to minimize exposure to chlorpyrifos

Avoid the use of pesticides whenever possible, especially near children.
If your home was recently treated with a pesticide containing chlorpyrifos and an odor remains, ventilate your home:

Reduce indoor air levels by periodically opening windows and doors and using fans to cross-ventilate.

In crawl spaces, clear or add vents and/or install a fan to constantly vent crawl space air to the outside. A radon fan is likely to reduce indoor air levels of chlorpyrifos from a termiticide treatment as well.
Contact your local sanitation department or hazardous waste disposal program to find out how to dispose of pesticides properly. Earth 911 lists hazardous waste disposal sites by zip code.

Alternatives

For Termites: Effective measures depend on the species of termite causing the problem. Take insect samples to a local agricultural extension service for identification or enlist the assistance of a pest control company that agrees to conduct an inspection without spraying.

Nontoxic termite treatments include digging out colonies, removing their earthen tubes, and removing and replacing damaged wood, or contracting a nontoxic pest control specialist to use extreme heat or cold treatments,nematode applications, or electrogun treatments. A safer termite control system called Sentricon involves the use of baits and an insect growth regulator that is harmless to humans and pets. It is available through commercial pest control operators.
For Roaches: Deterrence is your best bet. Remove their food and water sources by keeping kitchen counters and cabinets clean and dry, repairing dripping faucets and plumbing leaks, and covering or removing pet food and water at night. Get rid of some of their hiding places by removing clutter, stacks of newspapers or plastic bags. Seal cracks and holes in walls, around pipes and along floorboards.

To get rid of the free-loaders once they’ve taken up residence, place nontoxic glue traps in cabinets, around sinks and floorboards, and under sinks, stoves and refrigerators—this will also tell you where your highest concentration is. Dust cracks and crevices with boric acid, silica gel or diatomaceous earth where children and pets won’t be exposed.
For fleas, see The Green Pet: Alternatives to Conventional Pesticides.
To avoid pesticide residues on food,choose certified organic foods which are not sprayed with synthetic pesticides. See 10 Foods to Buy Organic.
See also Pest Control Without Pesticides for safer ways to eliminate insects infestations in your home.

For More information

Books, articles, factsheets and reports

Chlorpyrifos: General Factsheet. National Pesticide Information Center. April 2010. http://pi.ace.orst.edu/search/showPDF.s;jsessionid=F3FC8A17FD6C0291DF8BC881702F74F3?docNum=2#xml=http://pi.ace.orst.edu/search/pdfHL.s?docNum=2.

Chlorpyrifos Factsheet. Pesticide Action Network North America. May 2007. http://www.panna.org/files/cpffactsheet11may07mr%20final.pdf.

Other government agencies

National Pesticide Information Center

Oregon State University
333 Weniger Hall
Corvallis,OR 97331-6502
800/858-7378

http://npic.orst.edu

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Pesticide Programs (Division Mail Code)
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20460

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides

United States Department of Agriculture
National Institute of Food and Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 2201
Washington, DC 20250-2201
202-720-4423

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/index.html