UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

WASHINGTON, DC 20460

OFFICE OF PREVENTION, PESTICIDES, AND TOXIC SUBSTANCES

 

MEMORANDUM:								May 3, 2007

Subject:	Incident Report Associated with Copper and/or Zinc Naphthenate

To:	Kathryn Avivah Jakob, Chemical Review Manager

	Regulatory Management Branch II

Antimicrobials Division (7510P)

			AND

	Timothy McMahon, PhD., Risk Assessor

	Senior Toxicologist

		Antimicrobials Division (7510P)

From: 	Jonathan Chen, Ph.D

Risk Assessment and Science Support Branch (RASSB)

Antimicrobials Division (7510P)

Thru:	Nader Elkassabany, Team Leader

	Team Two

	Risk Assessment and Science Support Branch (RASSB)

	Antimicrobials Division (7510P)

	Norm Cook, Branch Chief

Risk Assessment and Science Support Branch (RASSB)

Antimicrobials Division (7510P)

INCIDENT REPORT ASSOCIATED 

COPPER AND/OR ZINC NAPHENATES

(PC CODE 024002)

May. 3, 2007

Jonathan Chen, Ph.D.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Pesticide Programs

Antimicrobials Division



Table of Contents

  TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u    HYPERLINK \l "_Toc166235992"  0.0
INTRODUCTION	  PAGEREF _Toc166235992 \h  1  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc166235993"  1.0	INCIDENT REPORT DATA ASSOCIATED WITH
HEALTH EFFECTS OF COPPER OR ZINC NAPHENATE EXPOSURE	  PAGEREF
_Toc166235993 \h  1  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc166235994"  1.1	OPP’s Incident Data System (IDS)	 
PAGEREF _Toc166235994 \h  2  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc166235995"  1.2	Poison Control Center (1993 –
2002)	  PAGEREF _Toc166235995 \h  2  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc166235996"  1.3 	California Data - 1982 through 2004
  PAGEREF _Toc166235996 \h  3  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc166235997"  1.4	National Pesticide
Telecommunications Network (NPTN)	  PAGEREF _Toc166235997 \h  4  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc166235998"  1.5	Incident Reports Associated
Published in Scientific Literature.	  PAGEREF _Toc166235998 \h  4  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc166235999"  2.0	SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION	  PAGEREF
_Toc166235999 \h  4  

  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc166236000"  3.0	REFERENCE:	  PAGEREF _Toc166236000
\h  6  

 

0.0	INTRODUCTION

Both copper and zinc naphthenates are microbiocide/microbiostat,
miticide, fungicide, insecticide, algaecide and herbicide/terrestrial
chemicals. Use sites for copper naphthenate include pressure treatment
and non –pressure treatment of wood for exterior uses (residential and
non-residential), wood used in contact with fresh or salt water, and
exterior wood exposed to moisture or weather. Copper naphthenate is also
used in brush, dip, roller, and low pressure spray applications for the
same uses listed above, and in addition is used for greenhouse and
horticultural uses (non-food applications including wooden seedling
trays, plant and flower boxes for ornamental plantings, trellises,
arbors, greenhouse benches, and nursery flats).  Application by
occupational applicators only includes brush, dip, roller, and low
pressure spray to beverage cases, baskets, tents, awnings, tarpaulins,
canvas products, nets [except fishnets], ropes, cordage, lumber for
ammunition boxes, other boxes, crates, and miscellaneous non –food
contact containers, truck and boat covers, non-rubber fabrics, and
burlap. Copper naphthenate is also used as a remedial treatment for
standing wood utility poles, mine timbers, bridge timbers, and
cross-ties and stakes.  

Zinc naphthenate use sites are the same as for copper naphthenate but do
not include remedial treatments or to beverage cases, etc. as listed for
copper naphthenate. 

The purpose of this chapter is to review the evidence of health effects
in humans resulting from exposure to copper or zinc naphenate, alone or
combination. 

Two approaches are used in this section:

The potential health effects of copper or zinc naphenate, alone or
combination in humans, reported as incident reports from different
sources, are summarized. 

A literature search of chronic health effects associated with copper or
zinc naphenate, alone or combination exposure, including results of
epidemiological studies, are summarized.

This reports summarized the potential health effects of copper or zinc
naphenate, alone or combination in humans, reported as incident reports
from different sources.

1.0	INCIDENT REPORT DATA ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH EFFECTS OF COPPER OR
ZINC NAPHENATE EXPOSURE

		

The following databases have been consulted for the poisoning incident
data on the active ingredient copper or zinc naphenates (PC Code:
024002)

OPP Incident Data System (IDS) - The Incident Data System of The Office
of Pesticide Programs (OPP) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
contains reports of incidents from various sources, including
registrants, other federal and state health and environmental agencies
and individual consumers, submitted to OPP since 1992.  Reports
submitted to the Incident Data System represent anecdotal reports or
allegations only, unless otherwise stated.  Typically no conclusions can
be drawn implicating the pesticide as a cause of any of the reported
health effects.  Nevertheless, sometimes with enough cases and/or enough
documentation risk mitigation measures may be suggested.

Poison Control Centers - as the result of a data purchase by EPA, OPP
received Poison Control Center data covering the years 1993 through 2002
for all pesticides.  Most of the national Poison Control Centers (PCCs)
participate in a national data collection system, the Toxic Exposure
Surveillance System, which obtains data from about 65-70 centers at
hospitals and universities.  PCCs provide telephone consultation for
individuals and health care providers on suspected poisonings, involving
drugs, household products, pesticides, etc.

California Department of Pesticide Regulation - California has collected
uniform data on suspected pesticide poisonings since 1982.  Physicians
are required, by statute, to report to their local health officer all
occurrences of illness suspected of being related to exposure to
pesticides.  The majority of the incidents involve workers.  Information
on exposure (worker activity), type of illness (systemic, eye, skin,
eye/skin and respiratory), likelihood of a causal relationship, and
number of days off work and in the hospital are provided.

National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN) - NPTN is a
toll-free information service supported by OPP. A ranking of the top 200
active ingredients for which telephone calls were received during
calendar years 1984-1991, inclusive, has been prepared. The total number
of calls was tabulated for the categories human incidents, animal
incidents, calls for information, and others.

Published Incident Reports - Some incident reports associated with
copper or zinc naphenates related human health hazard are published in
the scientific literature.

1.1	OPP’s Incident Data System (IDS)

	

Since 1992, only one incidence associated with copper or zinc
naphthenate, alone or in combination is recorded in IDS. In 1993, a
family had a handy man apply copper naphthenate containing wood
preservative to the wood under the porch of their house.  Shortly after
application, a strong odor was noticed and adverse health effects was
reported. No clear symptoms were described in the report. The household
members moved from their house for several months in order to escape the
fumes. The label did not specify the rate per area should be applied and
does not advise persons living in treated area to leave the area to
avoid breathing vapors.

 

1.2	Poison Control Center (1993 – 2002)

No incidences associated with copper or zinc naphthenate are reported in
the Poison Center data base.

1.3 	California Data - 1982 through 2004 

Detailed descriptions of 103 cases with a definite or probable
relationship cases submitted to the California Pesticide Illness
Surveillance Program (1982-2004) were reviewed. Table 1 presents the
types of illnesses reported by year.  Table 2 gives the total number of
workers that took time off work as a result of their illness and how
many were hospitalized and for how long. 

Table 1.  Cases Due to Copper or Zinc Naphenate, Alone or In Combination
Exposure in California Reported by Type of Illness and Year, 1982-2004

Year	Illness Type

	Systemic a	Eye b	Skin c	Respiratory d	Combination e 	Total

1982	-	-	1	-	-	1

1983	-	-	-	-	-	0

1984	-	3	-	-	-	3

1985	1	-	2	-	-	3

1986	-	-	-	-	-	0

1987	27	1	1	-	-	29

1988	1	1	-	-	-	2

1989	2	2	-	1	1	4

1990	1	1	1	2	-	3

1991	-	-	-	-	-	2

1992	19	5	-	15	17	21

1993	-	-	-	-	-	0

1994	3	1	-	2	2	4

1995	1	2	-	1	1	2

1996	3	1	-	3	3	4

1997	0	1	2	-	-	3

1998	2	2	-	1	2	2

1999	6	7	1	5	7	9

2000	2	2	-	2	2	3

2001	-	-	-	-	-	0

2002	3	-	-	3	2	4

2003	1	1	-	-	-	2

2004	-	-	1	-	-	1

Total

(1882-2003)	72	30	9	35	37-	102

a Category includes cases where nausea and headache are most commonly
reported symptoms. Other systemic effects including sore/ dry throat,
dizziness, chest tightness, upset stomach, stomachache, diarrhea and
other systemic effects occurred. 

b.Red, burning, or dry eyes, and blurring vision are reported.

C Itching rash are the primary complaint.

d.	Persistent coughing are the primary complaints been reported.

e Category includes combined effects to eye, skin, respiratory and/or
systemic effects.

Table 2:  

Number of Persons Disabled (taking time off work) or Hospitalized for
Indicated Number of Days after Copper or Zinc Naphthenate, Alone or In
Combination Exposure in California, 1982-2004.

	

Number of Persons Disabled	

Number of Persons Hospitalized



One day	4	-



Two days	16	

-



3-5 days	4	

-



6-10 days	1	

-



11 – 15 days	1	

-



More than 15 days	-	

-



Indefinite a	1	

-



Unknownb	15	

4

Note:

(a) An entry of indefinite indicates the event occurred, but the time
period is not known.

(b) An entry of unknown indicates no information was provided.

 .

1.4	National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN)

There is no incidences reported in the NPTN database related to copper
or zinc naphthenate, alone or in Combination exposure.

1.5			Incident Reports Associated Published in Scientific Literature.

There is one incidence reported in scientific literature (Bluhm, 1992),
a family of three individuals who lived in a home where copper
naphthenate was sprayed on the inner foundation of the house. 
Subsequently, these individuals developed non-specific complaints. In
two of these individuals, serum copper levels were elevated when first
measured months after copper naphthenate was sprayed in the home. A
gradual decline over several years in urine and serum copper levels was
observed in the individual who maintained follow-up. It is not known if
symptoms reflected exposure to naphthenate, the solvent vehicle,
volatilized copper, or the stress of exposure to a odor of the compound
perceived as toxic. 

2.0	SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

There are some incidences been reported associated with exposure to
end-use products containing copper and/or zinc naphthenates. Although,
naphthenates are skin irritant in man and in rabbits, not many skin
related incidences are reported.  Itchy rashes are the primary reported
complaints through dermal exposure.  Incidence associated with
inhalation exposed to vapors of a pesticide containing copper
naphthenate, with it strong odor, complained of nausea, head ache,
dizziness, sore throat, dry throat, chest tightness, coughing are
commonly reported. It is not known if symptoms reflected exposure to
naphthenate, the solvent vehicle, volatilized copper, or the stress of
exposure to a strong odor compound perceived as toxic. 

The most common symptoms reported for cases of ocular exposure were eye
irritation/burning.  Eye pain and swelling of eyes also been reported in
some incidence.  There is no exposure incidences associated with oral
exposure is reported. 

3.0	REFERENCE:

Bluhm, R.E.; Welch, L.; and Branch, R.A. 1992. Increased Blood and Urine
Copper After Residential Exposure to Copper Naphthenate. J Toxicol Clin
Toxicol 30 (1): 99-108

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