Description
Chlorothalonil is an organochlorine fungicide widely used to control fungal diseases on vegetables, trees, small fruits, peanuts, lawns and golf courses, ornamental plants such as roses, and to control fruit rot in cranberry bogs. Chlorothalonil is also added to some paints, stains, and wood preservatives to provide mildew resistance.
Products containing chlorothalonil are prohibited for use on home lawns, and products that contain chlorothalonil for mildew destruction must be labeled to prevent sale at over-the-counter retail outlets.
Children may be exposed to chlorothalonil during and after application of chlorothalonil-containing pesticides by neighboring facilities.
Health Effects
Immediate Health Effects
- If SWALLOWED, chlorothalonil is Slightly Toxic
- If ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN, chlorothalonil is Moderately Toxic
- If INHALED (SNIFFED OR BREATHED IN), chlorothalonil is Not Available
Longterm or Delayed Health Effects
Other
- In tested rodents, high doses of chlorothalonil has caused tumors (benign and malignant) in the kidney.
- Some formulations can cause severe eye and skin irritation, allergic dermatitis (skin rash), or allergic asthma upon contact.
- Very high doses in laboratory animals have caused a loss of muscle coordination, rapid breathing, nose bleeding, vomiting, hyperactivity, dermatitis, vaginal bleeding, bright yellow and/or bloody urine, and kidney tumors.
- High doses fed to laboratory animals caused kidney damage.
- Chronic skin contact can cause dermatitis, skin sensitization, and sensitivity to light. Swelling and inflammation of upper eyelids has been reported among workers.
How Exposures Occur
Ingestion From Eating Food
- Traces of chlorothalonil have been detected on tomatoes, spinach, green beans, celery, apples, green peppers, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, winter squash, and imported grapes and cantaloupes, among other produce.
Inhalation
- Children can inhale chlorothalonil during spraying or when spray drifts from neighboring farms, golf courses, or lawns (although use on home lawns is now prohibited).
Children may also inhale particles of the pesticide when lying or playing on carpets, where pesticides can collect after being tracked indoors on shoes.
Ingestion From Soil
- Chlorothalonil may remain in soil up to several months after treatment. Children living near agricultural areas where chlorothalonil is used could possibly be exposed by touching treated soil and putting their fingers in their mouth afterwards.
Occupational
- Children of farm workers and pesticide applicators are exposed to higher amounts of chlorothalonil and other pesticides, which can enter the home on clothing, shoes, etc.
Significant Statistics
Chlorothalonil is the second most widely used fungicide in the U.S.
Cox, Caroline. “Fungicide Fact Sheet: Chlorothalonil,” Journal of Pesticide Reform, Vol. 17, No. 4 (1997).http://www.pesticide.org/chlorothalonil.pdf
In 1999, between 11 and 15 million pounds of chlorothalonil were used for non-residential purposes (industry, government, agriculture) in the U.S.
1998-1999 Pesticide Market Estimates. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, August 2002.http://www.epa.gov/oppbead1/pestsales/99pestsales/table_of_contents1999.html
Solutions
How to detect chlorothalonil
- Read labels on paints, stains and pesticides and avoid those containing chlorothalonil. They should not be used in homes. A search for chlorothalonil in the National Library of Medicine’s Household Products Database will show a list of brands that contain it.
- Request Material Safety Data Sheets from your lawn care professional before use of pesticide products around your home. Do not permit use of chlorothalonil on your lawn or garden.
You can also find out if chlorothalonil is an ingredient in a pesticide product on Pesticide Action Network Pesticides Database.
- Food: There is no way for parents to determine exactly how much chlorothalonil may be in their children’s food. You can get a rough idea of the fruits and vegetables that may contain chlorothalonil from:
The Environmental Working Group’s Report Card: Pesticides in Produce
Do You Know What You’re Eating? by Consumers Union
Consumers Union’s May 2000 Update on Pesticides in Children’s Food
How to minimize exposure to chlorothalonil
- If you have any products containing chlorothalonil for home lawn usage or control of mildew, return it to the retailer or manufacturer, or contact your local sanitation department or hazardous waste disposal program to find out how to dispose of it properly. Earth 911 lists hazardous waste disposal sites by zip code.
- To avoid tracking pesticides into the house, where they can become embedded in carpets, always remove shoes at the door or wipe shoes on door mats before entering your home.
Alternatives
- Adopt Integrated Pest Management practices to keep fungal diseases at bay. Methods include keeping enough distance between plants and picking off diseased leaves to prevent the spread of the disease. For nontoxic treatments against rose diseases, which are often treated with chlorothalonil, see Least-Toxic Management of Rose Diseases.
- Buy certified organic foods, which are grown without synthetic pesticides. See 10 Fruits and Vegetables to Buy Organic.
- Choose low-or no-VOC paints and stains. These paints are formulated to release fewer fumes. Natural paints, such as milk paints or plant- and mineral-based paints, may not contain toxic fungicides. Check the label before purchasing or contact manufacturers for more information.
For More information
Books, articles, factsheets and reports
"Alternatives: Least-Toxic Management of Rose Diseases," Journal of Pesticide Reform, Vol. 15, No. 1 (1995).
http://www.pesticide.org/rose.pdf
Other government agencies
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
Nonprofit organizations
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP)
P.O.Box 1393
Eugene, OR 97440
541-344-5044
http://www.pesticide.org
Beyond Pesticides/National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides
701 E Street SE Suite 200
Washington DC 20003
202-543-5450
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/main.html
Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)
49 Powell Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-981-1771
http://www.panna.org
Other websites
Pesticide Action Network Pesticides Database
http://www.pesticideinfo.org
Environmental Defense Chemical Scorecard
http://www.scorecard.org
National Library of Medicine's Household Products Database
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov
Pesticide Action Network Pesticide Advisor
http://www.panna.org/resources/advisor.dv.html
Other
Chlorothalonil is highly toxic to fish, aquatic invertebrates, and marine organisms and may affect their reproduction. Fish such as rainbow trout, bluegill, and channel catfish are noticeably affected even when chlorothalonil levels are low (less than 1 milligram per liter of water).
Source: Pesticide Information Profile: Chlorothalonil. Extension Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET), Revised June 1996.
http://ace.orst.edu/cgi-bin/mfs/01/pips/chloroth.htm
