EPA is proposing to phase out use of the pesticide sulfuryl fluoride on food because of possible health risks, saying children in some areas are at risk of overexposure from fluoride in drinking water and pesticide residue on food.
If the plan becomes final, EPA will withdraw tolerance levels, or maximum pesticide residue limits, for sulfuryl fluoride, a fumigant used on stored grains, dried fruits, nuts, coffee and cocoa beans, over three years.
EPA announced the plan January 10 in response to complaints by the Fluoride Action Network in 2004 that current legal limits for sulfuryl fluoride on foods were unsafe.
The EPA announcement on the sulfuryl fluoride tolerance phaseout is available online.