**UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY**

**MEMORANDUM SUBJECT**  : Request for Scoping Document on Sodium Bicarbonate, and Potasium

Bicarbonate **EPA Reg. #: Chemical Class: Biochemical**  **PC Code :**  **073401, 073505, 073508 CAS Number:**  **1066 -**  **FROM:** Miachel Rexrode, Ph.D, Senior Biologist

Biochemical Pesticides Biopesticides & Pollution Prevention Division (7511P) **TO :**  Leonard Cole, Regulatory Action Leader Biochemical Pesticides Biopesticides & Pollution Prevention Division (7511P)

**ACTION REQUESTED** This is a Scoping Document for Sodium Bicarbonate, and Potasium Bicarbonate that evaluates potential

**RECOMMENDATIONS AND Executive Summary** 

**UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY**

**WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460**

**Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention** 

**MEMORANDUM May**  **22 , 2012** 

Request for Scoping Document on Sodium Bicarbonate, and Potasium

**Chemical Class: Biochemical**

**073401, 073505, 073508**

**- 33**  **- 7**  **; 144 -**  **55 -**  **8 ; 298**  **- 14**  **- 6**  Miachel Rexrode, Ph.D, Senior Biologist /S/ 0 5 /22 /2012

Pesticides Branch Biopesticides & Pollution Prevention Division (7511P)

Regulatory

Action Leader /S/ 0 5 /22 /2012 Biochemical Pesticides Branch Biopesticides & Pollution Prevention Division (7511P)

Sodium Bicarbonate, and Potasium that evaluates potential risk to non - target and Endangered Species.

**RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS**  **of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention**

Request for Scoping Document on Sodium Bicarbonate, and Potasium

/2012

Endangered Species.Based on the available data and information, the Agency does not f

oresee the need for new ecotoxicity data and risk assessments for the bicarbonates; Sodium Bicarbonate, and Potasium Bicarbonate. **Potassium B**  **icarbonate (Car bonic acid, monopotassium salt)**  **and Sodium Bicarbonate** (Carbonic acid, monosodium salt; baking soda) These two compounds are found throughout nature in living sy stems and in non
- living environments. They

are an integral part of humans, other animals, plants, and virtually all living organisms, and are crucial for normal function. They are also present in soils, water, rocks, and other parts of the environment and are found in many consumer products. These compounds are used as biological pesticides on all food commodities, turf, flowers, and ornamentals. The pesticide products that contain these bicarbonates are diluted with water and sprayed on foliage using ground equipment in order to combat fungal diseases. No adverse human health effects are expec ted when potassium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate are used as pesticides. The compounds are ubiquitous in nature; considered to be "generall y recognized as safe" (GRAS) b y the Food and Drug Administration; naturally present in human food; widely

distributed in commerce; available to the general public for non
-pesticidal uses; and required for normal function in human, animal, plant and environmental systems. Potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate are not associated with adverse effects to humans. **Ecotoxicity** Table 1.0 shows acute toxicity studies for the B icarbonates. The values for s odium b icarbonate and p otasium b icarbonate suggest that these compounds are practicall y non - toxic (L C 50 > 100 mg/L) to aquatic organisms on an acute basis. **Table 1.0 Ecotoxici** **ty Data for Sodium Bicarbonate and Potassium Bicarbonate**  **(PAN Data Base)**  Chemical Test Organism Test Results Sodium Bicarbonate Sheepshead Minnow ( Cyprinodon variegatus ) LC 50 = 3,293 mg/L Mosquito ( Culex sp .) LC 50 = 2,000 mg/L Diatom ( Nitzschia linearis ) LC 50 = 650 mg/L Daphnia ( Daphnia magna ) EC 50 = 1,554 mg/L Rat ( Rattus norvegicus ) LD 50 = 4,220 mg/kg Potassium Bicarbonate Fathead Minnow ( Pimephales promelas) LC 50 = 260 mg/L Daphnia ( Daphnia magna ) EC 50 = 93
- 450 mg/L**Risk Assessment** 

Potassium and Sodium Bicarbonate are biochemical pesticides that are exempt from the requirement of a tolerance in or on all raw agricultural commodities when applied as a fung icide ( § 180.117 and § 180.1176) . These two compounds are found in all living and non living environmental s ys tems and are also present in soils, water, rocks, as well as, consumer products. Potassium Bicarbonate and S odium B icarbonate are not associated with adv erse effects to the environment and are expected to show **No Effect** (NE) to endangered/threatened sp ecies. These compounds display

a non - toxic mode of action, occur natural ly , have a history of exposure to humans and the environment with minimal toxicity , are typicall y applied at l ow use rates that do not exceed background levels , degrade rapidly in the environment , and are typicall y indistinguishable from identical substances already present in the environment
.