UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

DEC 05 2011 

MEMORANDUM 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

SUBJECT: 

FROM: 

BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Bromacil (01230 I) 

Sunil Ratnayake, Biologist ;---1.Af) ~ n 

Biological Analysis Branch ~ "'YI ~ 

Jihad Alsadek, Economist 7' ,.>.tJ A k 

THRU: 

Science Infonnation and Analysis Branch 

Michelle Ranville, Economist lf1W~ 

Economic Analysis Branch 

Biological and Economic Analysis Division (7503P) 

Arnet 

Biological 

Jones, 

Analysis 

Chief 

Branc~rU /} P.)Ij ~ 

1« Diann 

Science 

Sims, 

Infonnation 

Chief 

and 

L~ 

Analysis 

~ 

Branch 

Timothy Kiely, Chief C'L ~ ~ Economic Analysis Branch ~ T ( \ 

Biological and Economic Analysls Division (7563P) 

TO: Christina Scheltema, Chemical Review Manager 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 3 

Pesticide Reevaluation Division (7508P) 

Product Review Panel date: Nov. 16,2011 

INTRODUCTION 

The purpose ofthis 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 

ofBromacil, and eventually the general pUblic. This document builds upon the data already 

provided in the "Usage and Label Use Data Packages" that are also provided to Registration 
Review teams by BEAD. The document is based on information and data available to BEAD as 

of November 14, 2011. 

8romaciI was first registered in the U.S. in 199 1 (EPA, 2011). It is a general use pesticide and 

belongs to the uracils group of herbicides. The mode of action of this herbicide group is 

inhibition of photosynthesis. It is a non-selective broad spectrum herbicide used for control of 

annual and perennial broad leaf and grass weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural lands. Major 

agricultural use sites include pineapple and citrus plantations. Non-agricultural sites include, 

rights-of-way, railroads, uncultivated agricultural lands, and other non agricultural sites 

described below. 

USE SITES 

Agricultural Use Sites 

Bromacil is registered for use as a soil treatment on citrus and for post-harvest application on 

pineapples. There are also labeled preemergence and post- plant uses on pineapple fields. 

Non-Agricultural Use Sites 

Bromacil is registered for use on ornamentals, forestry, rangeland, uncultivated agricultural 

areas, commercial, industrial and institutional maintenance, refuse storage areas, and rights-ofway for weed and brush control and as a total vegetation management tooL 

COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

Bromacil is available as wettable powder, water dispersible granules, pressurized liquid, as 

pellets and tablets, and in soluble and emulsifiable formulations. 

USAGE 

Agricultural 

8romacil was first registered in the United States for use as an herbicide in an end-use product in 

1991. From 2006-2010, the annual total agricultural usage of bromacil averaged approximately 

370,000 pounds active ingredient for 260,000 treated acres for an overall average rate of 1.4 lbs. 

a.i./acre. During this time frame, the crops with the most use in terms of total pounds of active 

ingredient applied are oranges (86%), grapefruit (10%), and lemons (4%). The crops with most 

total area treated (TAT) are oranges (85%), grapefruit (11 %), and lemons (3%). BEAD does not 

have data on pesticide use on pineapple. 

On average, the states with the most agricultural usage in terms of pounds a.i. applied are Florida 

(74%) and California (21 %) (Proprietary Data, 2006-2010). BEAD does not have data on 

pesticide use in Hawaii. 

USE TRENDS 

Figure I provides usage data for 2006-2010. During this period, the use ofbromacil on 

grapefruit and oranges fluctuated, and was stable on lemons. 

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Figure \. Bromacil Agricultural Recent Usa ge Data (2006-2010) 

450,000 

Pounds A.I. 

o 

2006 2007 2008 2009 

Years 

Source: Proprietary Data, 2006·2010 

Other crops include pastureland (0.2%), and fallow (0.1 %). 

201,0 

• Grapefruit 

• Lemons 

• Oranges 

_ Other 

Figure 2 provides usage trends, in terms of pounds applied, for the largest agricultural markets 

for bromacil. The use of bromacil on grapefruit and oranges declined during J 998-201 O. The use 

on lemons was relatively stable. There was minimal use on other crops. Other crops include 

avocados. 

Figure 2. Bromacil Agricultural Long Term Usage Data (1998-2010) 

1,200,000 

PoundsA.I. • Grapefruit 

_ lemons 

• Oranges 

I L .I J • Other 

0 • l I • L 

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

Years 

Source: Proprietary Data, 1998-2010 

Other crops include avocados (0,1 %), pasture land (0.05%), and fallow (0.01%). 

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Non-Agricultural 

The use ofbromacil in nurseries and greenhouse was less than 500 tbs. a.i. in 2004. In 2006, use 

on turf farms was less than 500 lbs. a.i. and approximately 4,000 Ibs. a.i. on home landscaping. 

(Kline and Company, Inc., 2002-2006) 

BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELEVANT TO BROMACIL 

Bromacil belongs to the herbicide family of uracils and the mode of action of this group is 

inhibition of photosynthesis. Bromacil is applied as broadcast treatments or band treatments and 

to be effective, soil moisture is necessary to move the herbicide in to root zone of weeds. When 

applied as broadcast treatments, contact of spray drift or mist on foliage or fruits should be 

avoided to minimize the crop damage. Presence of weeds resistant to the mode of action of 

uracils has been reported in the United States (Heap et aI., 2011). The control of weed species 

resistance to bromacil can be achieved by tank mixing compatible registered herbicides with a 

different mode of action to bromacil. The decline of usage of bromacil from 1998 to 20 I 0 may 

be due to the introduction of other non selective broad spectrum herbicides into the market that 

can be used as alternatives for bromacil. 

HISTORY OF BEAD ASSESSMENTS FOR BROMACIL 

BEAD searched for Section 18 emergency exemption requests and BEAD analyses which might 

highlight important benefits of bromacil. There have been no Section 18 requests from bromacil, 

and BEAD has not conducted any other assessments for this chemical. 

INFORMA nON THAT MAY BE USEFUL FOR BEAD'S FUTURE WORK ON 

BROMACIL 

Obtaining additional information on the following items would improve future BEAD 

assessments of the importance ofbromacil and may be required as part of the registration review 

of this pesticide. 

• Usage data (i.e., totallbs applied, application rates, application methods, etc.) for 

pineapples 

• Usage data (i.e., totallbs applied, application rates, application methods, etc.) on nonagricultural use sites 

REFERENCES 

Heap, I., H. Glick, 1. Glasglow, and W. Vencill. 2011. Herbicide Resistant Weeds by Country 

and Site of Action. Http://www.weedscience.org/summarv/countrysummary.asp. Accessed 

14 November 2011. 

Kline and Company, Inc., 2002-2006 

Proprietary Data, 1998-2010 

R.E.D. Facts. Bromacil. EPA, 1996. Accessed on Nov. 14, 2011. 

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