Page
1
of
1
UNITED
STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
AGENCY
WASHINGTON,
D.
C.
20460
OFFICE
OF
PREVENTION,
PESTICIDES
AND
TOXIC
SUBSTANCES
December
19,
2005
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
IODOMETHANE:
Non­
food
use
Status
Determination
FROM:
Elizabeth
Méndez,
PhD
Toxicologist/
Risk
Assessor
Reregistration
Branch
I
Health
Effects
Division
(
Mailcode
7509C)

THRU:
Michael
Metzger
Branch
Chief
Reregistration
Branch
I
Health
Effects
Division
(
Mailcode
7509C)

TO:
Mary
Waller
Product
Manager
Registration
Division
The
Health
Effects
Division
has
received
a
request
from
the
Registration
Division
and
Office
of
General
Counsel
(
OGC)
to
clarify
its
determination
to
classify
iodomethane
as
a
non­
food
use
pesticide
though
it
is
used
in
agricultural
settings.

Although
iodomethane
is
used
as
an
agricultural
pesticide,
it
is
considered
a
non­
food
use
chemical
since
it
is
quickly
degraded
or
metabolized
and
subsequently
incorporated
into
natural
plant
constituents.
The
levels
of
iodide
released
from
iodomethane
degradation/
metabolism
are
lower
than
those
expected
to
cause
toxic
effects.
Furthermore,
enforcement
of
tolerances
would
not
be
possible
since
no
iodide­
free
samples
are
available
and
residue
field
trials
show
evidence
of
control
samples
with
higher
iodide
residues
than
iodomethane
treated
samples.
Moreover,
iodide
is
ubiquitous
in
the
environment
and
a
required
nutrient.
Finally,
iodomethane
residues
must
dissipate
in
the
soil
prior
to
planting.
Accordingly,
HED
concluded
tolerances
are
not
required
for
iodomethane.
