Bayer phases out pesticide use

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Chemical manufacture Bayer has agreed to phase out the use of a pesticide that poses a health risk to infants and young children at high levels, the EPA said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Bayer CropScience agreed to end the use of the pesticide aldicarb, an N-methyl carbamate insecticide, because of a health alert.

Toxicity data examined by the EPA suggests aldicarb at levels that exceed those normally found in food leads to sweating, nausea, dizziness and blurred vision, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.

Bayer under the agreement with the EPA will phase out the production of the pesticide by 2014 and completely end use by 2018.

To address significant risk, the EPA said, Bayer said it would first stop using the pesticide on citrus and potatoes. Lower application rates of the pesticide will be added to product labels for use on cotton, soybeans and peanuts while the product is still in use.

"The U.S. has a safe and abundant food supply, and children and others should continue to eat a variety of foods, as recommended by the federal government and nutritional experts," the EPA added.

Bayer said the product, sold under the trade name Temik, has been in use for almost 40 years without adverse effects to human health or the environment, though the company agreed with EPA guidelines.