PANNA: Diazinon Facts

Diazinon Facts

About 75% of the diazinon used in the U.S. is applied to lawns and gardens. Children may be exposed through contact with treated lawns or pets that have been on treated lawns.

Used To Control: Insects
Top Uses: Lawn and garden care, lettuce, almonds
Known Health Effects: Neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity

Use and Exposure

Diazinon is an organophosphorus insecticide. Three-quarters of its total use is for residential applications, primarily on lawns and gardens. It is also used agriculturally on crops and livestock. In total, about 13 million pounds per year are used in the U.S. (1). Some uses of diazinon are being phased out by EPA, including all non-agricultural outdoor use and about a third of agricultural use (2). Diazinon is moderately mobile and persistent in the environment (1). People are exposed to diazinon through eating contaminated food, touching contaminated soil or water, breathing air near application sites, and applying the pesticide professionally or at home (3). Children may be exposed through contact with treated lawns or with pets who have been on treated lawns.

Agriculturally, more than one million pounds of diazinon were used in California to control agricultural pests in 2000. The areas and crops on which diazinon are most heavily applied are structural pest control, almonds, head lettuce, leaf lettuce and prunes (4).

Health Effects

Breathing, ingesting, or making skin contact with diazinon can cause neurological effects stemming from the inhibition of cholinesterase, an enzyme necessary for the proper transmission of nerve impulses. Symptoms include excessive salivation and tearing, uncontrolled urination, weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, pinpoint pupils, confusion and dizziness. At higher doses, tremors, convulsions or respiratory paralysis may occur, sometimes leading to coma and death. It is not likely to be carcinogenic (3). The US EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory lists diazinon as a reproductive toxicant, and it is considered to be a possible endocrine disruptor, interfering with the natural function of estrogen, androgen and thyroid hormones, as well as a potential groundwater contaminant.

Companies That Manufacture Products Containing Diazinon

Syngenta, Mahkteshim-Agan (5)

References

(1) United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs. “Diazinon Summary” December 5, 2000. Available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/diazinon/summary.htm accessed 1/18/03.
(2) United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Diazinon Revised Risk Assessment and Agreement With Registrants.” January 2001. Available at http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op/diazinon/agreement.pdf accessed 1/23/03.
(3) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. “ToxFAQs(tm) for Diazinon CAS# 333-41-5.” September 1997. Available at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts86.html accessed 1/22/03.
(4) Pesticide Action Network Pesticide Database. “Chemical Information About Diazinon.” Available at http://www.pesticideinfo.org/PCW/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC35079 accessed 1/22/03.
(5) United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Overview of Diazinon Revised Risk Assessment.” December 2000. Available at http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op/diazinon/overview.pdf accessed 1/27/03.