The Turf Pesticides & Cancer Risk Database

1. The Turf Pesticides & Cancer Risk Database Providing cancer risk information for turf & lawn care professionals in New York State and beyond Heather Clark, Ph.D. and Suzanne Snedeker, Ph.D. 2007 North American Pesticide Applicator Certification and Safety Education Workshop, Portland, ME August 23, 2007 Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors (BCERF) Sprecher Institute for Comparative Cancer Research

2. About BCERF http://envirocancer.cornell.edu • Program on Breast Cancer & Environmental Risk Factors • Founded in 1996 to assess and address the role environmental risk factors play in the risk of breast cancer and other cancers • Is committed to providing accessible, science-based information for sound decision making to lower the risk of cancer • We are a part of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Sprecher Institute for Comparative Cancer Research • The mission of the Institute includes integration of research, surveillance, prevention, and outreach programs to control cancer in all species.

3. Turf pesticides & cancer risk at BCERF • Research • Risk Communication Research on risk perceptions of NYS turf pesticide applicators • Critical Evaluations on cancer risk of pesticides • Outreach • Fact sheets on understanding cancer risk • Fact sheets on cancer risk of pesticides • Trade journal articles (e.g. for American Nurseryman) • Newsletter articles on the latest research • Web Features on the Agriculture Health Study • Databases on chemicals and cancer risk • Coming soon “Making Choices” web pages

4. Why a cancer risk database? • Provide access to cancer risk information: • Chronic health effect information (such as cancer risk) is not required on pesticide labeling • EPA “Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential” has not been available online since 1999 • Aid decision making and communication: • The Turf Pesticides & Cancer Risk Database adds cancer risk information to the IPM toolbox • Provides a basis for a more informal discussion of cancer risks posed by turf & lawn care pesticides

5. Why turf & lawn? • Turf and lawn care in NYS • 3.4 million acres of turf and lawn • Over 9,000 certified turf and lawn care applicators • Turf & lawn is a starting place • Potential for exposure exists for homeowners, applicators, children, and pets • Lawn care professionals are risk communicators and decision makers who need reliable, accessible information

6. What makes up the database? US EPA List of Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential (2006) New York State Pesticide Product, Ingredient & Manufacturer System (PIMS) Turf Pesticides & Cancer Risk Database US EPA cancer risk information for Active Ingredients in NYS turf and lawn pesticide products

7. Database & website features • US EPA cancer risk classifications for: • 111 pesticide active ingredients found in: • 2,803 turf-use products (New York State) • Registered • Registered, but discontinued • No longer registered

8. Database & website features • Detailed product & cancer risk information • Downloadable EPA risk decision documents • REDs, IREDs, TREDs, RED Fact sheets • Answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” • Interpretive tools • Extensive glossary

9. Database & website features • Dynamic search capabilities • by product information • EPA registration number • Product name • Type of pesticide or formulation type • by active ingredient or CAS number • by EPA cancer risk category

10. US EPA Cancer Risk Classification Systems 2005:Carcinogenic to humans Likely to be carcinogenic to humans Suggestive evidence of carcinogenic potential Inadequate information to assess carcinogenic potential Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans Multiple descriptors 1999:Carcinogenic to humans Likely to be carcinogenic to humans Suggestive evidence but not sufficient to assess human carcinogenic potential Data inadequate for assessment of human carcinogenic potential Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans 1996:Known/likely Cannot be determined Not likely 1986: Group A Human carcinogen Group B1 Probable human carcinogen (human studies data) Group B2 Probable human carcinogen (animal studies only) Group C Possible human carcinogen Group D Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity Group E Evidence of non-carcinogenicity

11. Searching the database: By product name

12. Searching the database: By active ingredient

13. Searching the database: By cancer risk category

14. Product search results

15. Product details

16. Active ingredient risk information

17. Cancer risk information

18. What we can learn about currently registered turf products in NYS

19. Time lineTurf Pesticide & Cancer Risk Database • Phase I: • Original database development 2004-2005 • Usability testing Spring 2006 • Phase II: • Major revisions based on user testing • Completed Summer 2006 • Launched to World Wide Web Sept. 2006 • Phase III: • Further updates and expansion Fall 2006 • Publicity campaign January 2007 • Presentation at regional and national meetings 2006-07 • Online user survey Jan. 2007 - August 2007 • Distribution of instructional CD for pesticide safety educators

20. Next steps • Actively soliciting input from educators and applicators • Prioritize needed improvements • Seeking funding for expansion of database model to additional pesticide use categories in NYS, such as: • Greenhouses, florists • Structural: termites, rodents • Rights-of-way: poles, vegetation

21. Acknowledgements • BCERF Turf Database team Heather Clark, Ellen Hartman & Suzanne Snedeker Sean Gardner, computer consultant Devi Chandrasekaran, Chloe Ota & Melissa Sherwin • Cornell Pesticide Sales and Use Reporting Project (PSUR) Bill Smith, Robert Warfield & Fion Lee • Cornell Vet Med Info Technology (VMIT) Penny Ciccone, Mary Stauble, Mari Stewart & Phyllis Highland

22. Acknowledgements Funding provided by: • New York State Dept. of Health • New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation • US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Any opinion, findings, conclusions or recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Department of Agriculture or the NYS DOH or DEC.

23. Questions and comments are welcome! Heather Clark hac4@cornell.edu 607-255-5940 http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/turf