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UNITED
STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
AGENCY
WASHINGTON,
D.
C.
20460
OFFICE
OF
PREVENTION,
PESTICIDES
AND
TOXIC
SUBSTANCES
April
1,
2004
Memorandum
Subject:
Lower
Risk
Pesticide
Chemical
Focus
Group's
Assessment
for
Nitrogen
Tolerance
Reassessment
From:
Mark
Perry
Product
Reregistration
Branch
Special
Review
and
Reregistration
Division
(
7508C)

Through:
Linda
Propst,
Branch
Chief
Product
Reregistration
Branch
Special
Review
and
Reregistration
Division
(
7508C)

To:
Lower
Risk
Pesticide
Chemical
Focus
Group
Kathryn
Boyle,
Co­
Chair
Kerry
Leifer,
Co­
Chair
Registration
Division
(
7505C)

The
following
is
the
Lower
Risk
Pesticide
Chemical
Focus
Group's
science
assessment
for
nitrogen
(
PC
Codes
128934,
900206).
The
purpose
of
this
review
is
a
reassessment
of
the
exemption
from
the
requirement
of
a
tolerance
under
40CFR
180.1050.
This
assessment
summarizes
available
information
on
nitrogen.
In
performing
this
assessment,
EPA
has
relied
on
a
peer­
reviewed
evaluation
performed
by
the
Food
and
Drug
Administration
(
FDA).

Nitrogen
(
N
2)
is
a
colorless,
odorless
gas
which
comprises
approximately
78
percent
of
the
earth's
atmosphere.
It
is
relatively
inert,
non­
combustible,
and
slightly
soluble
in
water.
Nitrogen
is
an
essential
component
of
all
plant
and
animal
life,
and
is
present
in
all
living
tissues
of
the
human
body.
During
human
respiration,
about
350
grams
of
nitrogen
move
through
the
lungs
per
hour.
As
a
primary
constituent
of
amino
acids,
nitrogen
is
also
present
at
high
levels
in
the
normal
human
diet.
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Nitrogen
is
used
commercially
to
generate
an
inert
atmosphere
usually
for
product
packaging.
In
the
food
industry,
it
is
used
to
preserve
packaged
foods,
such
as
ground
coffee,
by
displacing
oxygen.
As
a
pesticide
active
ingredient,
nitrogen
may
be
used
as
a
fumigant
to
control
insects
in
structures
and
on
stored
food
commodities.
Currently
there
is
only
one
registered
enduse
product
containing
nitrogen
as
the
active
ingredient.
As
a
pesticide
inert
it
is
used
as
an
aerosol
propellant.

The
Food
and
Drug
Administration
(
FDA)
has
classified
nitrogen
as
Generally
Recognized
As
Safe
(
21CFR
184.1540)
as
a
direct
food
additive.
The
1979
FDA
evaluation
of
nitrogen
entitled
"
Evaluation
of
the
Health
Aspects
of
Nitrogen,
Helium,
Propane,
n­
Butane,
iso­
Butane,
and
Nitrous
Oxide
as
Gases
used
in
Food"
considers
the
essential
role
of
nitrogen
in
the
human
body
and
human
exposure
levels
through
normal
respiration
and
diet.
As
a
result,
the
FDA
evaluation
concludes
that
"[
t]
here
is
no
evidence
in
the
available
information
on
nitrogen
gas
that
demonstrates,
or
suggests
reasonable
grounds
to
suspect,
a
hazard
to
the
public
when
it
is
used
at
levels
that
are
now
current
or
that
might
reasonably
be
expected
in
the
future."

Based
on
the
available
information
on
nitrogen,
its
expected
use
pattern,
its
safe
history
of
use
as
a
food
additive,
and
its
essential
role
in
the
human
body,
there
is
a
reasonable
certainty
of
no
harm
from
exposure
to
nitrogen
through
its
use
in
pesticides.
Furthermore,
there
is
no
concern
for
potential
sensitivity
to
infants
and
children.
It
is
known
that
direct
contact
with
liquid
nitrogen
may
cause
dermal
corrosion,
and
that
exposure
to
atmospheres
containing
very
high
levels
of
nitrogen
could
result
in
asphyxiation
through
displacement
of
oxygen.
However,
as
with
all
chemicals,
nitrogen
must
be
used
safely
according
to
good
manufacturing
or
good
agricultural
practices.
The
Agency
believes
that
exposure
to
levels
of
concern
of
nitrogen
are
unlikely
as
a
result
of
its
use
in
pesticide
products,
and
would
be
most
appropriately
addressed
through
the
use
of
protective
equipment,
adequate
ventilation,
and
labeling,
not
through
the
establishment
of
tolerance
exemptions.

References:

U.
S.
Food
and
Drug
Administration
(
FDA),
1979.
Evaluation
of
the
Health
Aspects
of
Nitrogen,
Helium,
Propane,
n­
Butane,
iso­
Butane,
and
Nitrous
Oxide
as
Gases
used
in
Foods.
Prepared
by
Life
Sciences
Research
Office,
Federation
of
American
Societies
for
Experimental
Biology.
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