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California's Prop 65 and Public Health Concerns over Mancozeb -

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 13:13:01 EST

LA Testing provides analytical services to protect the public and help businesses comply with California's Proposition 65.
 
Garden Grove, CA, April 2nd, 2012
 
In 1986, California voters approved an initiative to address increasing concerns about exposure to toxic chemicals. That initiative, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is better known by its original name of Proposition 65. 
 
Proposition 65 requires businesses to notify Californians about significant amounts of chemicals in the products they purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment.  This list includes mancozeb, a broad spectrum fungicide, which was added to the Prop 65 list in 1990.
 
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 'Mancozeb was first registered in the United States in 1948 as a broad spectrum fungicide used in agriculture, professional turf management, and horticulture. Mancozeb is a member of the ethylene bisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) group of fungicides, which includes the related active ingredients maneb and metiram. The EBDCs share the common degradate ethylenethiourea (ETU), which has been considered in the Agency's assessments. The EBDCs have been the subject of two Special Reviews.'
 
Workers who mix, load and apply mancozeb are at perhaps the highest risk for exposure, as are workers who re-enter these areas.  According to the EPA, similar to other EBDCs and ETU, the thyroid is the target organ for mancozeb. Thyroid effects were observed in multiple studies across species.
 
'Mancozeb is not a Restricted Use Pesticide,' reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, Inc., a major environemntal testing network of laboratories.  'It is used in horticulture, agriculture and turf management.  Over 5 million pounds of the fungicide is used annually so many agricultural and turf workers, and families who leave nearby areas that are treated, could come into exposure with the chemical.  Simple testing procedures can quickly identify if the chemical is present,' he continued.
 
LA Testing provides analytical services for mancozeb and other potentially hazardous materials.  To learn more about Proposition 65 testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. 
 
About LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, Inc.
LA Testing and EMSL Analytical are providers of environmental testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The companies have an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.