Human Health Risk Assessment of Isomate LBAM Plus (Twist Tie), 2009

Executive Summary This document describes a human health risk assessment on the use of Isomate LBAM Plus conducted by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), California Environmental Protection Agency. The Isomate LBAM Plus device, also known as a " twist tie, " is a pheromone dispenser. It consists of an aluminum wire and a hollow plastic tube that contains moth pheromones and other additives. It is one of the tools employed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to control and eradicate the light brown apple moth (LBAM). LBAM is an invasive pest that was first detected in California in early 2007. In the wild, female moths release a sex pheromone into the air to attract male moths. Male moths detect the pheromone "scent" with a specialized sensory organ and follow it upwind to locate and then mate with the females. The purpose of the pheromone dispenser is to disrupt this communication system and suppress mating and reproduction by preventing male moths from finding females. Pheromones do not kill or harm the moths. OEHHA evaluated potential health risks associated with exposures to the pheromones and additives in Isomate LBAM Plus. The pheromones belong to a class of chemicals known as Straight Chain Lepidopteran Pheromones (SCLPs). SCLPs share many chemical structure features. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has determined that SCLPs are sufficiently similar toxicologically to be considered as a group. Toxicology data of one member of the SCLPs can be applied to other members. This approach was also used in this evaluation. OEHHA's evaluation indicates that inhalation is the most relevant route of exposure and the use of Isomate LBAM Plus is not likely to pose a health hazard to humans, including children. The reasons are as follows: • Low toxicity of SCLPs • Low application rate of the dispenser • Low release rate of pheromones from the dispenser • Low expected human exposure to the pheromones Furthermore, pheromones in Isomate LBAM Plus have chemical structures similar to the common food items and nutrients known as long-chain fatty acids, and they are expected to be metabolized in a similar fashion in the body. These chemicals are not likely to accumulate in the body or persist in the environment. Pheromones in Isomate LBAM Plus have been shown to be slight skin irritants in rabbits. While no eye irritation tests have been performed on the …