Ethoprophos

ee-tho-pro-fos

High residues found on cilantro and sweet bell peppers. Registered as a U.S. pesticide in 1995. Reregistered in 2006. Currently under registration review.

Overview

Ethoprophos is used in 11 states.

Map of where the organophosphate pesticide ethoprophos is used in the 48 contiguous United States.

Ethoprophos is used in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Data is not available for Alaska, D.C., Hawaiʻi, and U.S. Territories. Data represents the most recent year available from USGS. Details.

See detailed maps of ethoprophos usage by state and county.

Human Health Effects

Even at low levels of exposure, ethoprophos can lead to serious negative health effects.

Cancer

Neurodevelopmental Harm

High Risk Exposure Routes

People are exposed to ethoprophos through food and drinking water, even if they don’t live near areas where pesticides are sprayed. Details.

Food and/or Drinking Water

Pesticide HandlersPeople involved in pesticide application process. Details.

Residential BystanderPeople who live near areas where pesticides are applied. Details.

Spray Drift

High Residue Foods

Where residue levels of ethoprophos exceeded allowable limits or were not legally allowed to have residues.Details.

Cilantro

Sweet Bell Peppers

Registered Uses

Where EPA allows ethoprophos to be used.

Agricultural Crops: fruit and vegetables

Additional Information

Estimated Use of Ethoprophos on Crops

Most recent agricultural crop usage data as provided by the U.S. Geographical Survey’s Pesticide National Synthesis Project. Does not reflect universal usage of ethoprophos. (How do EPest-low and EPest-high differ?)

EPest-low

EPest-low: Estimated use in millions of pounds of ethoprophos by year and crop.
USGS

EPest-high

EPest-high: Estimated use in millions of pounds of ethoprophos by year and crop.
USGS

U.S. Tolerances Categories & Commodities for Ethoprophos

The U.S. EPA sets maximum residue limits — known as “tolerances” — on the amount of ethoprophos that may remain in and on foods. The tolerance is the residue level that triggers enforcement actions.

Tolerances have been set for ethoprophos for: Agricultural Commodities. Maximum residue limits have been set for ethoprophos by the U.S. EPA for the following commodities:

Banana
Beans
Cabbage
Corn
Cucumber
Hop
Peppermint
Pineapple
Potato
Spearmint
Sugarcane
Sweet Potato

U.S. EPA Human Health Risk Assessments for Ethoprophos

Human Health Risk Assessments are conducted by the U.S. EPA to estimate the nature and probability of harmful health effects in people who may be exposed to pesticide. They are used to make informed decisions about approving new pesticides and new uses of registered pesticides, and during our regular review of existing pesticides. Read the assessment for ethoprophos.