UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

APR 11 2013 

MEMORANDUM 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Sulfur Dioxide (077601) 

FROM: 

THRU: 

Tara Chandgoyal, Plant Pathologist 

Biological Analysis Branch 

Rafael Prieto, Environmental Protection Specialis~.cA J / . () ~ h 

Science Information and Analysis Branch y .. vr·-.. ""- /f fVW" ...... 

Stephen Smearman, Economist 

Economic Analysis Branch 

Biological and Economic An 

Arnet Jones, Chief 

Biological Analysis Br c 

Diann Sims, Chief ALI:L~~~~"""" 

Science Information and Analysis Branch 

~~ 

Timothy Kiely, Chief {.1_ UA,_ I 0 

Economic Analysis Branch ':1 ) ~ Biological and Economic Analysis Division (7503P) 

TO: Khue Nguyen, Chemical Review Manager 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 2 

Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

Product Review Panel date: March 27, 2013 

INTRODUCTION 

The purpose of this document is to convey usage information and a broad overview of the pest 

management roles of pesticides that are beginning to undergo registration review. The 

anticipated audience consists of the team of EPA staff currently evaluating the registration status 

of sulfur dioxide (077601; sulfur dioxide) and eventually the general public. This document 

builds upon the data already provided in the usage and label use data packages that are also 

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provided to Registration Review teams by BEAD. The document is based on information and 

data available to BEAD as of February 22,2013. 

Products containing sulfur dioxide as the active ingredient are formulated as liquid under 

pressure (99.9- 100% sulfur dioxide) which turns into gas upon release of pressure. It has 

antifungal and antimicrobial properties and is used for the control of gray mold (caused by 

Botrytis cinerea) on grapes during storage and transport. It is also used in the wine industry for 

the sanitation of corks and barrels. 

COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

End use products contain 99.9 -100% sulfur dioxide in pressurized containers. 

USE SITES 

Sulfur dioxide is registered for post-harvest fumigation of grapes held in cold storage, fumigation 

of trailers, railcars, transportation vehicles and warehouses. Sulfur dioxide labels do not specify 

if it can be used to fumigate trailers, railcars, transportation vehicles and warehouses when empty 

or with grapes. It is also registered for sanitation of barrels and cork in the wine industry. 

USAGE 

Sulfur dioxide usage was not' found in any of our available usage databases with national usage. 

California grows approximately 90% of grapes in the United States and usage data is available 

from California's Department of Pesticide Regulation (CA-DPR). 

Pounds Sulfur Dioxide on Grapes (non-Wine) (California Only)* 

2008 I 2009 2010 

167,003 I 82,446 89,267 

Pounds Sulfur Dioxide on Wine Grapes (California Only)* 

399 I 132 311 

*Source: Cal1fom1a DPR, 2008-2010 

BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELEVANT TO SULFUR DIOXIDE 

Sulfur dioxide is an inorganic pesticide with multisite mode of action against microorganisms 

and belongs to M2 code of fUngicide (FRAC, 2010). It is considered as low risk for resistance 

development in micro-organisms (FRAC, 2010). Sulfur dioxide is used as a fungicide on grapes 

to control gray mold on harvested grapes (CA Grape Profile, 1999). 

It is used to disinfect and preserve food. It is used in treating dried fruits (such as apricots, 

peaches etc.) for preservation and to prevent brown discoloration (non FIFRA uses). Sulfur 

dioxide odor can be noticed when smelling or eating dried fruits treated with this chemical 

(Mattson, undated). 

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IDSTORY OF BEAD ASSESSMENTS FOR INORGANIC SULFITES 

In 2010, a BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review of Sodium Metabisulfite was 

prepared by BEAD (Ranville, .Chen and Stebbins, 2010). Sodium metabisulfite products are 

composed of anhydrous solid active ingredient. When anhydrous sodium metabisulfite products 

are mixed with water or absorb moisture from air, they produce sulfur dioxide gas. It is used as a 

postharvest treatment for grapes to control gray mold disease (caused by Botrytis cinerea). 

The Registration Eligibility Decision (RED)- Inorganic Sulfites was published in May, 2007. 

INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USEFUL FOR BEAD'S FUTURE WORK ON 

SULFUR DIOXIDE 

Limited use and usage data are available from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. 

The information available regarding the use of sulfur dioxide was limited to its use as a fumigant 

in post harvest applications. It would be helpful to know if the cargo containers that are treated 

with sulfur dioxide are fwnigated with or without the commodity contained in them. It would 

also be helpful to know if there are other known uses for sulfur dioxide in states other than 

California. 

REFERENCES 

California DPR, 2008-2010. 

California Grape Profile. 1999. Crop Profile for Grapes (Table) in California. California Grape 

Advisory T earn. California Pesticide Impact Assessment Program 

(http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/cagrapes-table.pdO. Accessed February 20, 2013. 

Environmental Protection Agency. 2007. Registration Eligibility Decision- Inorganic Sulfites. 

http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/inorganicsulfites.pdf 

FRAC. 2010. Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC). 

http://www.frac.info/frac/publication/anhang/FRAC%20Code%20List%202011-final.pdf. 

Accessed February 22, 2013 .. 

Mattson. undated. Microscale Gas Chemistry: Sulfur dioxide Information. 

http://mattson.creighton.edu/S02/S02 Info.html. Accessed March 2013. 

Ranville, M., Chen, C., Stebbins, K. 2010. A BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: 

Sodium Metabisulfite. 

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