Ecological Incident Summary for Registration Review Snapshot

Fomesafen Sodium (PC Code 123802)

The Agency’s Ecological Incident Information System (EIIS) contains 64
reports of damage to non-target plants attributed to the use of
fomesafen sodium on various agricultural crops.  In 54 of these
incidents, a crop was allegedly damaged following direct application of
the herbicide to the crop or by carryover effects from a previous
application.  Six of the incidents were associated with off-site
transport of fomesafen sodium resulting from spray drift.  In all of
these spray drift incidents, however, level of certainty that the
fomesafen exposures caused the observed symptoms was categorized as
“possible,” indicating a lack of conclusive causal evidence. 
Besides these incidents in EIIS, aggregate incident summaries submitted
by pesticide registrants have reported a total of 349 additional minor
plant damage incidents linked to fomesafen sodium use.  The Agency is
aware of one incident of fish mortality that was associated with
exposure to fomesafen sodium (I007601-001).  However, fish in this
incident also were exposed to two other active ingredients,
fluazifop-P-butyl (122809) and fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (129092).  Evidence
was lacking to ascertain which, if any, of these ingredients caused the
observed fish mortality.  The Agency is aware of no incident of adverse
effects to terrestrial wildlife that was attributed to fomesafen sodium
use.  Three incidents of fomesafen sodium contamination of surface and
drinking water have been reported to the Agency.  No incidents of ground
water contamination have been reported.

A lack of reported incidents does not necessarily mean that such
incidents have not occurred.  In addition, incident reports for
non-target plants and animals typically provide information on mortality
events only.  Reports for other adverse effects, such as reduced growth
or impaired reproduction, are rarely received.

