UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON D.C., 20460 

JUI () l 7nf~ 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

MEMORANDUM 

SUBJECT: 

FROM: 

THRU: 

TO: 

Updated Screening Level Usage Analysis (SLUA) Report for Abamectin, ~C Code 

(122804) . 

Jihad Alsadek, Ph.D., Economist ;vh-..J A -~ / 

Science and Information Analysis Branch 

Steve Jarboe, Acting Chief ft~~ Science Information and .Analysis Branch 

Biological and Economic Analysis Division (7503P) 

Khue Nguyen, Chemical Risk Manager 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 1 

Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

This memorandum transmits an updated Screening Level Usage Analysis (SLUA) report for 

abamectin (previously completed in 2012). The usage data in the μpdated SLUA (2015) are an 

amalgamation of USDA/NASS and Private Pesticide Market Research data from 2004 to'2013. 

The current SLUA shows an increase in usage, in terms of pounds a.i. and percent crop treated on 

several crops (almonds, apples, artichoke, cantaloupes, cherries, corn (seed treatment), cotton and 

cotton seed treatment, grapefruit, grapes, lettuce, onions, oranges, peaches, pistachios and 

plums/prunes). The SLUA shows a decrease, in terms of pounds a.i. and percent crop treated, on 

apricots, green beans, pears, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes and watermelons. Usage for 

cabbage, corn, dry beans/peas, peanuts, green peas, pluots and sweet coin were not obsezyed 

during the reporting time frame for the 2012 SLUA. The usag~ 'data for the remaining crops did 

not change with the addition of the most recent usage data in the 2015 SLUA. 

For questions, comments and other usage information requests, please contact me at 703-308-

8140. 

cc: Andrew Ertman 
Abamectin (122804) 

Screening Level Usage Analysis (SLUA) 

Date: June 29, 2015 

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What is a Screening Level Usage Analysis (SLUA)? 

• Available estimates of pesticide usage data for a particular active ingredient that is used on 

agricultural crops in the United States. 

• Pesticide usage data obtained from various sources. The data are then merged, averaged, and 

rounded so that the presented information is not proprietary, business confidential, or.trade secret. 

What does it contain? 

• Pesticide usage data for a single active ingredient only. 

• Agricultural use sites (crops) that the pesticide is reported to be used on. 

• Available pesticide usage information from U.S. states that produce 80% or more of a crop, in most 

cases, or less than 80%, in rare cases, depending on the scope of the survey and available resources. 

• Annual percent of crop treated (average & maximum) for each agricultural crop. 

• Average annual pounds of the pesticide applied for each agricultural crop (i.e., for the states 

surveyed, not for the entire United States). 

What assumptions can I make about the reported data? 

• Average pounds of active ingredient applied - Values are calculated by merging pesticide usage 

data sources together; averaging across all observations, then rounding. Note: If the estimated value 

is less than 500, then that value is labeled <500. Estimated values between 500 & <1, 000, 000 are 

rounded to 1 significant digit. Estimated values of 1, 000, 000 or greater are rounded to 2 significant 

digits.) · 

• Average percent of crop treated - Values are calculated by merging data sources together; 

averaging by year, averaging across all years, & rounding to the nearest multiple of 5. Note: If the 

estimated value is less than 2. 5, then the value is labeled <2. 5. If the estimated value is less than 1, 

then the value is labeled <1. 

• Maximum percent of crop treated - Value is the single maximum value reported across all data 

sources, across all years, & rounded up to the nearest multiple of 5. Note: If the estimated value is 

less than 2. 5, then the value is labeled <2. 5. 

What are the data sources used? 

• USDA-NASS (United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service)-

pesticide usage data from 2004 to 2013. 

• Private pesticide market research - pesticide usage data from 2004 to 2013. 

• California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) data for 

2004 to 2012. 

What are the limitations to the data? 

• Additional registered uses may exist but are not includ~d because the available surveys do not report 

usage (e.g., small acreage crops). 

• Lack of reported usage data for the pesticide on a crop does n.ot imply zero usage. 

• Usage data on a particular site may be noted in data sources, but not quantified. In these instances, 

the site would not be reported in the SLUA. 

• Non-agricultural use sites (e.g., turf, post-harvest, mosquito control, etc.) are not reported in the 

SLUA. A separate request must be made to receive these estimates. 

• Some sites show some use, even though they are not on the label. This usage could be due to 

various factors, including, but not limited to Section 18 requests, existing stocks of the chemical, 

data collection errors, and experimental use permits (EUPs).'. · 
Date: June 29, 2015 

Screening Level Estimates of Agricultural Uses o£abame~tin (122804) 

Sorted Alphabetically : .. ·. 

Reporting Years: 2004-2013 . 

Annual Average Percent Crop Treated 

Crop Lbs. A.I. Applied Maximum 

1 Alfalfa <500 <1 <2.,5 

2 Almonds 10,000 70 80 

3 Aooles <500 10 30 

4 Apricots <500 15. 30 

5 Artichokes <500 <2.5 <2.5 

6 Avocados 1,000 35 60 

7 Beans, Green <500 5 25 

<500 <1 <2.'5 

9 Cantaloupes <500 25 45 

10 Celery <500 45 70 

11 Cherries <500 5 20 

12 Chicory* <500 <1 <2.5 

13 Com <500 <1 <2.5 

14 Com (Seed Treatment) 10,000 <2.5 <2.,5 

15 Cotton 3,000 5 5 

16 Cotton (Seed Treatment) 30,000 20 ·. 30 

17 Cucumbers <500 5 10 

18 Dry Beans/Peas <500 <2.5 <2.5 

19 Grapefruit 1,000 70 . 90 

20 Grapes 2,000 15 35 

21 Hazelnuts <500 <2.5 <2.'5 

22 Honeydews <500 20 35 

23 Lemons <500 40 55 

24 Lettuce 1,000 20 ·· 45 

25 Nectarines <500 20 20 

26 Onions <500 <2.5 10 

27 Orane:es 5,000 40 7Q 

28 Peaches <500 10 •' 25 

29 Peanuts <500 <1 . <2.5 

30 Pears 1,000 70 ·. 85 

31 Peas, Green <500 <1· <2.5 

32 Pecans <500 <1 <2.5 

33 Peooers <500 15 30 

34 Pistachios <500 <2.5 <2.'5 

35 Plums/Prunes <500 10 35 

36 Pluots* <500 30 75 

37 Potatoes 1,000 5 20 

38 Pumpkins <500 5 . 10 

39 Sovbeans <500 <1 <2.5 
40 Spinach <500 25 . 45 

41 Squash <500 5 15 

42 Strawberries 1,000 30' ' 45 

43 Sweet Corn <500 <1 <2.5 

44 Tangelos <500 60 65 

45 Tangerines <500 35 55 

46 Tomatoes 1,000 10 25 

47 Walnuts 1,000 25 55 

48 Watermelons <500 , _ 5 15 

All numbers are rounded. 

<500: less than 500 pounds of active ingredients. 

<2.5: less than 2.5 percent of crop is treated. 

<I: less than I percent of crop is treated. 

* Based on CA DPR data only (80% or more of U.S. acres grown are in California). 

SLUA data sources include: 

USDA-NASS (United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service) 

Private Pesticide Market Research 

California DPR (Department of Pesticide Regulation) 

These results reflect amalgamated data developed by the Agency and are releasable to the public. 

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