UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

JUN 21 2012 

MEMORANDUM 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

SUBJECT: 

FROM: 

THRU: 

TO: 

BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Folpet (081601) 

Biological 

Leonard Yourman, 

Analysis 

Plant 

Branch 

Pathologist [> ~ t A _ .. 

Jihad Alsadek, Economist ~ II- tt~ Science Information and Analysis Branch 

Arnet Jones, Chief 

Biological Analysis Branch 

Diann Sims, Chief ;L.Iil~.A..o.,,/~,,-,'"L.Ll~I"\..-c:~ 

Science Information and Analysis Branch 

Timothy 

Economic Kiely, Analysis 

Chief 

Branch 

fro {. \/'""''--J ~ 

Biological and Economic Analy' Division (7 3 

Christina Scheltema, Chemical Review Manager 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 3 

Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

Product Review Panel date: June 6, 2012 

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 folpet, and eventually the general public. The document is based on information and data 

available to BEAD as of June, 2012. 

1 
Folpet (Folpan®) is a thiophthalimide fungicide. Folpet and captan are the only two fungicides 

of that group registered in the U.S. Folpet has multi-site contact mode of action (FRAC, 2012). 

COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

Folpet is formulated as water dispersible granules or wettable powder for use as a foliar 

treatment of avocado and hops. It is also formulated with bis (tributyltin) oxide for use as a 

wood decay preventative (Fishel, 2011). 

There are nine end use antimicrobial products that contain folpet. Three products are wood 

preservatives and six products are materials preservatives. The wood preservative products are 

formulated as ready to use liquids that are applied using brush, roller or airless spray. The 

material preservative products are formulated as liquid concentrates, wettable powders and water 

dispersible granules that are added during material manufacture. The wood preservative 

products contain other active ingredients such as bis (tributyltin) oxide or 3-iodo-2-propynl butyl 

carbmate (IPBC). The material preservative products do not contain any other active 

ingredients. 

USE SITES 

Agricultural Use Sites 

Folpet is registered for use on avocados in Florida to manage scab and for use on hops to manage 

downy mildew. 

Non-Agricultural Use Sites 

Folpet is registered for use on the following non-agricultural sites; domestic dwellings (outdoor), 

wood and wood structure protection, industrial preservatives, adhesives, caulks, coatings, paints, 

plastics, stains, ~ood plastic composites, surface treatments (outdoor furniture, tile, finished 

wood, plaster, wood surface), and polymer compounds. Polymer compound uses are limited to 

non-food and non-drinking water articles. These uses are not to be used in toys, personal care 

items, or clothing. A summary of the application rates is listed in Table 1. 

2 
• Table 1 - Folpet Antimicrobial Uses 

Use Application Rate Representative 

(In Terms of ai) Label 

Materials Preservation 

Adhesives, caulks, cement based products, plastics, paper 0.2 to 1.4 percent 66222-126 and wood composite materials 

Paints, stains and coatings 0.4 to 1.4 percent 66222-125 

PVC membranes, roof shingles, carpets, cordage, gaskets, 0.25 to 1.5 percent vinyl upholstery, pond liners 

Wood Preservative 

Clearwood Preservative 0.5 0 percent 

(coverage 150 to 250 :tf gallon) 73l3-25 

Sherwin Williams Semi-transparent Wood Preservative 0.66 percent 

(coverage 100 to 350 :tf gallon) 577-539 

Olympic Clear Wood Preservative 0.50 percent 7313-6 (coverage 150 to 250 :tf gallon 

HISTORY OF BEAD ASSESSMENTS FOR FOLPET 

There are no recent BEAD assessments that are relevant to the review of this chemical. 

USAGE 

Folpet is a fungicide used as a foliar treatment to manage scab on avocados in Florida and downy 

mildew on hops. It also has uses against wood rot fungi, mold/mildew, and spoilage fungi on 

wood and other surfaces. Formulations include liquid, ready to use, 0.3 to 0.7%; wettable 

powder, 44 to 50%; and 96% technical for industrial use. There is no available 'usage for folpet 

from our data sources 

Antimicrobial Usage 

The 200412005 Kline Report on Specialty Biocides (Kline, 2006) indicates that folpet is used as 

a fungicide in paints and coatings and as a fungicide/mildewcide in adhesives and sealants. The 

estimated U.S. consumption for 2004 was 700,000 lb of which 630,000 pounds were used in 

paints and coatings and 70,000 pounds were used in adhesives and sealants. These uses were 

predicted to grow at an annual rate of3.0 percent. In the paints and coatings product class for 

fungicides, folpet consumption was 14 percent of the volume and 9 percent of the value. In the 

adhesives and sealants product class for fungicide/mildewcide, folpet consumption was 18 

percent of the volume and 4 percent of the value. 

BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELEVANT TO FOLPET 

According to extension information for hops, it is often used as a tank-mix with a systemic 

fungicide to manage downy mildew (Pseudoparonospora humulis) and reduce the likelihood of 

resistance to site-specific systemic fungicides (e.g., cymoxanil) (Hops, 2008). It may also 

suppress powdery mildew on hops, but it is not widely used for powdery mildew as efficacy is 

not well described. Alternatives appear to be available. 

3 
Folpet may be used to manage scab (Sphaceloma perseae) on avocado (the label restricts its use 

to Florida). The disease primarily affects young plants, but cultivars of Florida avocado vary 

greatly in their susceptibility to scab, ranging from very susceptible to slightly susceptible in 

mature trees (Crop Profiles for Avocados in Florida, 2008; Palmateer et al., 2006). Copper 

products and phosphoric acid products appear to be effective for managing scab. 

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

FOLPET 

Additional information on non-agricultural sites; domestic dwellings (outdoor), wood and wood 

structure protection, industrial preservatives, surface treatments (outdoor furniture, tile, finished 

wood, plaster, wood surface, paint) would improve future BEAD assessments of the importance 

of folpet, and may be required as part of the registration review of this pesticide. 

Usage information (e.g., acres treated, amount applied, number of applications, etc.) for Florida 

avocado and for hops will be helpful if future assessments are necessary. 

REFERENCES 

Crop Profiles for Avocados in Florida. 2008. 

http://www .ipmcenters.org/ cropprofiles/ docs/FLavocados.pdf 

Fishel, F. M. 2011. Pesticide Toxicity Profile: Thiophthalimide Pesticides. University of Florida 

Extension Pub!. PI-63. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edulpdffilesIPIIPIlOOOO.pdf 

Folpet. 1999. R.E.D. (Registration Eligibility Decision) Fact Sheet: Folpet. EPA Pub!. EPA-738-

FOO-016, September, 1999. http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1IREDs/factsheets/0630fact.pdf 

FRAC (Fungicide Resistance Action Committee). 2012. FRAC Code List: Fungicides sorted by 

mode of action. http://www.frac.info/frac/publicationlanhang/FRAC-Code-List20 11-fina!.pdf 

Hops. 2008. Pest Management Strategic Plan for Hops in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. 

Western Integrated Pest Management Center summary of workshop held on January 22, 2008 

(issued July 3, 2008). http://www.ipmcenters.orglpmsplpdf/OR-WA-IDhopsPMSP.pdf. 

Kline. 2006. Biocides-Chapter 3E Organosulfur; Chapter 4A5-6 Paint and Coatings 

Palmateer, A. J., Ploetz, R. C., and Harmon, P. F. 2006. 2006 Florida Plant Disease Management 

Guide: Avocado (Persea americana). University of Florida Extension Pub!. PP-233. 

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edulpdffiles/PG/PG 13400.pdf 

4