ARS | Publication request: A set of scientific issues being considered by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding: pesticide exposure modeling and climate change. SAP Minutes No. 2011-01. USEPA FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel

Submitted to: Environmental Protection Agency Special Publication
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: March 7, 2011
Publication Date: July 7, 2011
Citation: Heeringa, S., Portier, K., Chambers, J., Schlenk, D., Jenkins, F., Boxall, A., Fisher, J., Garrett, K., Lu, C., Peart, R., Petersn, R., Potter, T.L., Randolph, J., Scott, G. 2011. A set of scientific issues being considered by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding: pesticide exposure modeling and climate change. SAP Minutes No. 2011-01. USEPA FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel. Environmental Protection Agency Special Publication. http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap/meetings/2010/december/120710minutes.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: The US Environmental Protection Agency relies on simulation models to evaluate potential human and ecological exposures to pesticide active ingredients during their normal and or proposed use. Model outputs guide significant regulatory decisions regarding the legal status of pesticides in all States and territories of the USA. There is concern that models may not function effectively with projected changes in climate over the coming decades. A panel of experts was convened by the agency to consider implications of climate change on model performance and to make recommendations for a coordinated response. Findings are summarized in this report. This is the beginning of a process which will serve to harmonize and update, as needed, the agency’s approach to pesticide exposure assessment modeling. There are significant implications to all pesticide users.

Technical Abstract: The USEPA Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) reviewed most of its human and ecological exposure assessment models for conventional pesticides to evaluate which inputs and parameters may be affected by changing climate conditions. To illustrate the approach used for considering potential effects of climate change on modeling pesticide exposures, OPP selected two of its models that address human exposures and one that addresses ecological exposures as case studies. A panel of fourteen experts reviewed OPP findings and provided guidance and advice to the agency regarding: 1. the agency’s approach to assessing exposure model performance, 2. conclusions from case studies, and 3. sources of information that may inform identified knowledge gaps. The review was conducted during a public hearing held December, 7, 2010 in Arlington, VA. This report provides a written summary of findings and recommendation