Human Health Risk Assessment of Isomate-EGVM

This document describes a human health risk assessment on the use of Isomate ® ­ EGVM conducted by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), California Environmental Protection Agency. The Isomate ®-EGVM device, also known as a " twist tie, " is a pheromone dispenser. It consists of an aluminum wire and a hollow plastic tube sealed at both ends that contains a moth pheromone and two additives. It is one of the tools employed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to control and eradicate the European Grape Vine Moth (EGVM) (Lobesia botrana). EGVM was first detected in California in September 2009 and has been determined to be an invasive pest. 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 pheromone and additives in Isomate ®-EGVM. The pheromone belongs 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. The pheromones can be easily and rapidly broken down by UV light and oxidation. The pheromone dispenser contains two additives: butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), an anti-oxidant, and bumetrizole, a UV blocker. They are used to protect the longevity of the pheromone. OEHHA's evaluation indicates that inhalation is the most relevant route of exposure and the use of Isomate ®-EGVM is not likely to pose a health hazard to humans, including children. The reasons are as follows: Low toxicity of SCLPs Low acute toxicity of the additives Low application rate of the dispenser Low release rate of SCLPs from the dispenser Low expected human exposure to the pheromones and the additives 1 Furthermore, the pheromone in Isomate ®-EGVM has a chemical structure similar to many common food items and nutrients known as long-chain fatty acids, …