1

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460

MEMORANDUM

DATE: July 19, 2012

SUBJECT: Tier I Estimated Drinking Waters Concentrations (EDWCs) of Spirotetramat and 

its Transformation Products for the Use in the Human Health Risk Assessment for 

the Section 3 New Uses on Several New Crops

(PC Code 392201; DP Barcode D398507)

FROM: José L. Meléndez, Chemist

Environmental Risk Branch V

Environmental Fate and Effects Division

THROUGH: Mah T. Shamim, Ph.D., Branch Chief

Environmental Risk Branch V

Environmental Fate and Effects Division (7507P)

TO: Laura Nollen, Biologist

Barbara Madden, Minor Use Officer

Luis Suguiyama, Branch Chief

Risk Integration, Minor Use and Emergency Response Branch

Registration Division (7505P)

AND: Julie VanAlstine, Environmental Health Scientist

David Hrdy, Acting Branch Chief

Registration Action Branch I

Health Effects Division (7509P)

This memorandum presents the Environmental Fate and Effects Division’s (EFED’s) Tier 

I Estimated Drinking Water Concentrations (EDWCs) for spirotetramat (CAS No. 203313-25-

1)

1

, and for two of its major transformation products spirotetramat-enol2and spirotetramatketohydroxy3

, for use in the human health risk assessment by the Health Effects Division (HED). 

The registrant has applied for several new uses for spirotetramat under Section 3 registration, 

including the following crops, crop groups or crop subgroups: bananas and plantains, bushberry

and low growing berry subgroups (Crop Subgroups 13-07B and 13-07H, includes cranberries), 

 

1 CAS Name: cis-3-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-8-methoxy-2-oxo-1-azaspiro[4.5]dec-3-en-4-yl ethyl carbonate

2 CAS Name: cis-3-(2,5-Dimethylphenyl)-4-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1-azaspiro[4.5]dec-3-en-2-one

3 CAS Name: cis-3-(2,5-Dimethylphenyl)-3-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1-azaspiro[4.5]decan-2,4-dione
2

various additional citrus fruits (to conform the Crop Group 10-10), coffee, pineapple, various 

additional pome fruits (to conform the Crop Group 11-10), pomegranate, bulb vegetables (Crop 

Subgroups 3-07A and 3-07B), various additional fruiting vegetables (to conform the Crop Group 

8-10), globe artichoke, taro leaves (under the leafy vegetables group), and watercress (refer to 

the Appendix III).

Using the Tier 1 aquatic models SCI-GROW v.2.3 (groundwater, for the use on bananas 

and plantains) and the Tier 1 Rice Model v.1.0 (surface water, surrogate model for the use on 

watercress), it was found that watercress at an application rate of 0.4 lb a.i./A/season (surface 

water)4and bananas and plantains at 1.25 lb a.i./A/season (groundwater), were the uses involving

the highest potential exposure. The highest seasonal application rate is now different than from 

previous drinking waters assessments (DWAs); therefore, both the surface water and the 

groundwater EDWCs are different from the previous DWAs. For the total toxic residues 

(spirotetramat + spirotetramat-enol + spirotetramat-ketohydroxy), the acute and chronic EDWC 

in surface water is 395 ppb and the EDWC in groundwater is 0.00124 ppb (Table 1-1). These 

are dealt with in Appendix I for surface water and Appendix II for groundwater. This DWA 

focuses on changes in EDWCs relative to previously reported values (refer to DP Barcode 

D345275, dated 01/22/2008; this is the DWA issued for the “new chemical,” covering multiple 

crops). Thus, this DWA relies heavily on the previous assessment in that the summary of the 

environmental fate properties and characterization, chemical structures, approaches, and several 

other details about spirotetramat were previously provided.

Spirotetramat is a systemic broad spectrum tetramic acid insecticide (ketoenol class) that 

is applied as a preventative treatment during an early threshold of developing chewing insect 

population when sufficient leaf tissue is present for uptake and translocation to occur within 

agricultural crops. The mode of action for spirotetramat is lipid biosynthesis inhibition (LBI); it 

belongs in the Group 23 Insecticides. Residue exposure to surface water is typically possible 

through surface water runoff, soil erosion and/or off-target spray drift. The mobility of 

spirotetramat is moderately high (Kd range 3.58-5.52 L/Kg, KOC range 184-437 L/KgOC, 

moderately mobile, FAO 2000). Spirotetramat is labile, especially under aerobic soil 

metabolism conditions. Nonetheless, its total residues are relatively persistent. The Tier 1

EDWCs for spirotetramat and for its major transformation products spirotetramat-enol and 

spirotetramat-ketohydroxy (per HED’s request; DP Barcodes D333437 & D345276, dated 

05/14/2008), were calculated using the Tier 1 Rice Model v.1.0 (surface water, as a surrogate for 

applications to watercress) and SCI-GROW v.2.3 (groundwater, applications to bananas and 

plantains) for use in the human health risk assessment. Table 1-1 provides a summary of the 

Tier I modeled drinking water concentrations. This DWA presents screening level EDWCs for 

the use of spirotetramat. A more definitive assessment and refinements are possible if needed by 

 

4 The new use pattern on cranberries indicated a potential for higher EDWCs for this use relative to watercress; 

however, EFED evaluated the pattern using the tier 1 Provisional Cranberry Model (which is similarly based on the 

Tier 1 Rice Model v.1.0), that the Division has used in past assessments. The EDWCs were lower than for 

watercress, despite the fact that the application rate is somewhat higher. The reasons include that all spirotetramat 

applications on cranberry occur before flooding the field, and the depth of the water column is higher than for 

watercress. A peak EDWC for the cranberry use of ~114 ppb was obtained assuming applications up to 1 day preflood and incorporating the aerobic soil metabolism of the total residues of ~12 days.
3

HED (see also notes below for further characterization of results). Should any questions arise, 

contact EFED (melendez.jose@epa.gov).

Table 1-1. Maximum Tier I Estimated Drinking Water Concentrations (EDWCs) for drinking water 

risk assessment based on ground or aerial application of spirotetramat on plantains and bananas (for 

groundwater) at 1.25 lb a.i./A/season, and ground, aerial or chemigation applications on watercress 

(for surface water) at 0.4 lb a.i./A/season.

Drinking 

Water Source 

(MODEL)

Estimated Drinking Water Concentration (EDWC)

Chemical: Parent

Spirotetramat

SpirotetramatenolSpirotetramatketohydroxyTotal Toxic 

Residues (TTR)1

Risk \ Units (ppb) (ppb) (ppb) (ppb)

Ground-water 

(SCI-GROW)

Acute & 

Chronic 2 7.06 x 10-5

5.15 x 10-51.12 x 10-31.24 x 10-3

Surface 

Water (Tier 1 

Rice Model 

v.1.0)

Acute & 

Chronic 2 N/A N/A N/A 395

1 TTR = Total Toxic Residues (sum of spirotetramat + spirotetramat-enol + spirotetramat-ketohydroxy)

2

Surface-water concentrations calculated by the Tier I Rice Model v1.0 and ground water concentrations calculated 

by SCI-GROW do not distinguish between peak and chronic concentrations.

Use Characterization

Table III.A of Appendix III is a summary of all agricultural use patterns for 

spirotetramat in the labels for BYI 8330 150 OD Insecticide (oil dispersion), MOVENTO®SC 

(suspension concentrate), and the ULTOR®(suspension concentrate). The uses shaded yellow

are proposed new crops while the uses bold and underlined are the modeled ones.

In comparing the crops in Table III.A against crops that were assessed in the 2010 DWA

(DP Barcode D370675, dated 11/08/2010), it was noted that some previously assessed crops are 

not included in the labels available in Pesticide Product Label System (PPLS; at 

http://iaspub.epa.gov/apex/pesticides/f?p=PPLS:1). These crops are cucurbit vegetables, cotton 

and various additional tropical fruits. The Section 3 crops are at a range of application rates up 

to a seasonal rate of 1.25 lb a.i./A; foliar applications by ground, aerial, airblast, or chemigation 

methods (Table III.A).

Identification of specific data gaps

The environmental fate database for spirotetramat is substantially complete. At this time, 

no additional data has been required.
4

References

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. FAO PESTICIDE DISPOSAL 

SERIES 8. Assessing Soil Contamination: A Reference Manual. Appendix 2. Parameters of 

pesticides that influence processes in the soil. Editorial Group, FAO Information Division: 

Rome, 2000. http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X2570E/X2570E00.htm (accessed 

07/17/2012).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2007. Guidance for Tier I Estimation of Aqueous 

Pesticide Concentrations in Rice Paddies (dated 05/08/2007). Available at 

http://www.epa.gov/oppefed1/models/water/rice_tier_i.htm (accessed 07/17/2012).
5

Appendix I

Surface Water EDWCs of Spirotetramat Total Residues on Watercress

Watercress is typically grown in clean, flowing water, 2 to 3 inches deep.

5

The Agency does 

not currently have a methodology for exposure assessment for crops cultivated in flowing water,

such as watercress. The Tier 1 Rice model v.1.0 was, therefore, used as the basis of the 

assessment of surface waters (refer also to Section 18 for the use on watercress in Florida, DP 

Barcode D399575, dated 04/05/2012), and the results were characterized to reflect differences 

between the capabilities of this model and the watercress cultivation practices. Watercress is a 

very minor use (<700 acres were harvested in 2002 and 2007 across the U.S. and there were <65 

farms, according to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture). Based on the previous review, and according to information 

provided by the registrant and IR-4, it appears that according to agricultural practices, watercress 

is grown in a bed of water which drains to a ditch which is constantly recirculated. (In Florida, 

as per the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Section 18 request, field 

plots are 4-acres sized each and laser leveled.) The circulation of water is stopped 24 hours 

before and is turned on 24 hours after chemical applications.

EFED is concerned primarily about the total toxic residues (TTR), as opposed to individual 

metabolites (spirotetramat, spirotetramat-enol and spirotetramat-ketohydroxy), from discharge 

towards adjacent bodies of water likely to occur at the end of the season. EFED does not have a 

standard model for applications on watercress. In order to represent the proposed use on 

watercress, the Tier 1 Rice model v.1.0 was provisionally used (USEPA 2007). Individual 

metabolites were not modeled because this would double count mass of pesticide and 

transformation products in this particular model. The simplified equation for the Tier 1 Rice 

Model v.1.0 is as follows:

 =





0.00105 + 0.00013

 Where:

Cw = EDWC = water concentration [μg/L or ppb]

mai' = mass applied per unit area [kg/ha] (i.e., the seasonal application rate)

Kd = water-sediment partitioning coefficient [L/kg]

 For the applications of spirotetramat on watercress, the EDWC expression is based on 

spirotetramat-ketohydroxy, which is the last and persistent metabolite of the degradation 

pathway:

Spirotetramat  Spirotetramat-enol  Spirotetramat-ketohydroxy

For spirotetramat, the calculation is therefore:

 

5

http://www.naturesherbal.com/Watercress.htm; see also http://www.bwqualitygrowers.com/ourfarms.aspx

(accessed 07/12/2012)
6

 =

0.44832

0.00105 + (0.00013)(0.6532)

/ = 395 /

 Where the input parameters selected for the model and their justification and sources are 

specified in Table I.A.

Table I.A. Tier I Rice Model v1.0 input parameters for spirotetramat use on watercress

Input Parameter Value Justification Source

Application Rate 

(mai')

0.44832 0.20 lb a.i./A/application x 2 applications = 0.4 lb 

a.i./A (x 1.1208 Kg·A/ha·lb) = 0.44832 kg a.i./ha

Proposed spirotetramat 

labels (see Table 9)

Soil-to-Water 

Partition Coefficient 

(Kd)

0.6532

Kd = Mean KOC

1

(65.32 L/Kgoc) x 1% organic 

carbon content = 0.6532 L/kg for the total 

spirotetramat residues

OECD Monograph Annex 

B. Spirotetramat. B.8 Fate 

and Behaviour

1. The representative partition coefficient used is the one for spirotetramat-ketohydroxy, which is the last metabolite 

in the degradation sequence and for which the KOC model is more suitable than the Kd model (i.e., the coefficient of 

variation is smaller).

A. Assumptions of the Tier 1 Rice Model v.1.0 (Provisional for Watercress Use)

Most of the assumptions used in the Tier 1 Rice Model v.1.0 model help ensure that the 

outputs are protective of most environments associated with rice agriculture (noted though, that it 

is provisionally being used to represent the uses on watercress). Rice cultivation differs from 

watercress in that for the latter the water is constantly flowing while for rice, the field is flooded. 

The model assumptions include the following (see USEPA 2007 for parameterization 

information and further details):

1. Movement of pesticide on suspended sediment is not considered (while for this use, water 

is constantly circulated except when pesticides are applied; the water circulation may

promote pesticide movement).

2. Degradation does not occur (notwithstanding, the TTR are relatively persistent to aerobic 

aquatic metabolism and moderately persistent to aerobic soil metabolism).

3. Volatilization and other dissipation processes are not considered (for spirotetramat, the 

vapor pressure and Henry’s Law Constant are low, indicating a low potential for 

volatilization, but other dissipation processes like degradation and metabolism are not 

considered).

4. The partitioning to sediment is instantaneous.

5. Water is available for human exposure instantaneously (because the chemical is likely

circulated, it appears that the water would be discharged into adjacent bodies of water 

and would be of concern primarily at the end of the season).

6. Water column depth is 10 cm. (Based upon unofficial data, it appears that actual depth is 

in the range of 1 to 3 inches or around 2.5 to ~8 cm). As per the registrant, chemical

applications occur 24 hours after water circulation is stopped and water circulation is 

restarted 24 hours after application.)

7. Sediment depth is 1 cm.
7

8. All pore space is saturated with water.

9. Organic carbon fraction is 0.01 (i.e., 1% OC).

10. Bulk density is 1300 kg/m3.

11. Grain density is 2650 kg/m3.

The aerobic soil half-life for the TTR is on the order of 203.7 days and their partitioning is 

not too strong with a KOC of 65.32 L/KgOC (mobile according to FAO 2000, using the 

ketohydroxy as the representative chemical). The aerobic soil metabolism half-life for 

spirotetramat-ketohydroxy, the last degradate in the degradation pathway is 12.38 days, and the 

rate determining step. It is noted that neither the degradation of the pesticide nor the mass 

transfer from the aqueous phase to the sediment are considered in this conceptualization, which 

greatly simplifies the model. The absence of degradation adds conservatism to the model (i.e., 

estimated concentrations should be higher than those usually found in rice paddies, considered 

representative of use on watercress). The absence of mass transfer processes can either add or 

reduce conservatism depending on numerous conditions such as whether the pesticide is soil or 

water applied and whether actual degradation occurs preferentially in the sediment or the water 

compartment (refer to uncertainties below); however, consideration of this parameter is a 

refinement beyond a Tier 1 conceptualization. Spirotetramat is actually foliarly applied and the 

chemicals (spirotetramat, spirotetramat-enol and spirotetramat-ketohydroxy) do not readily bind 

to bottom sediment.

B. Uncertainties of the Tier 1 Rice Model v.1.0 (Provisionally used for Watercress)

The Tier 1 Rice Model v.1.0 provides screening-level estimates and as such, are expected to 

exceed peak values found in the environment in most cases. They represent paddy discharge 

water that has not degraded, and has not diluted with uncontaminated water outside the paddy. 

The aerobic aquatic metabolism is ~204 days for the TTR and the overall anaerobic aquatic 

metabolism, hydrolysis and aqueous photolysis processes are considered relatively persistent. It

is noted that the aqueous photolysis of the parent spirotetramat is 14.4 Phoenix, AZ days. In 

sterile water, the only species observed is spirotetramat (i.e., the enol and ketohydroxy are not 

observed), while in natural water, spirotetramat-enol is observed peaking at 3 days and declining 

to <20% AR after 10 days and the ketohydroxy is not observed.

The model does not account for crop interception which appears to be a very important 

component for this particular chemical. Furthermore, it does not account for dilution occurring 

in the receiving body of water. Direct discharge water is generally not expected to be used as a 

drinking water source.

It was noted that the EDWCs obtained by the Tier 1 Rice Model v.1.0 were substantially

higher than the acute EDWC for the TTR obtained in the previous assessment; therefore, various 

parameters were explored in order to assess the impact of certain variables and characterize the 

reported results.

For DWA, evaluation of the Tier I Rice Model v.1.0 indicated that modeled within-paddy

estimates are conservative, exceeding peak measured concentrations of pesticides in water bodies
8

well downstream of rice paddies in five evaluated studies by less than one order of magnitude to 

multiple orders of magnitude. The five studies assessed were conducted in Louisiana and 

California using four different pesticides (USEPA 2007). It appears that the range of modeled 

estimate exceedances over measured concentrations is most likely in response to chemical, 

environmental, and study-specific factors. Estimates from the Tier I model generally do not 

represent typical concentrations found in human drinking water, as they represent direct paddy 

discharge water.

1. Crop Interception

According to the labels (e.g., MOVENTO®SC) spirotetramat must be applied (tank 

mixed) with a spray adjuvant or additive having spreading and penetrating properties to 

maximize leaf uptake and systemicity of the active ingredient within treated plants. The Section 

3 label further says that “Sufficient leaf tissue must be present for uptake and translocation of 

this product...” Later it says that, “Following application to plant foliage, MOVENTO is fully 

systemic, moving through phloem and xylem to new shoot, leaf and root tissues...” This 

chemical is primarily active against immature insect life stages (i.e., aphids) that ingest plant 

tissue, and fertility of adult female insects may be reduced. Spirotetramat has limited contact 

activity; it is a systemic lipid biosynthesis inhibitor, is ambimobile (i.e., it moves up and down 

through the plant tissue), and must be taken up by foliage in order to be effective against sucking 

insects.

Therefore, under actual conditions of watercress cultivation, most of the applied pesticide 

should be taken up by the treated foliage (i.e., leaf tissue) of the watercress to be effective against 

aphids. The fraction remaining on the leaves (expressed as a percentage), is referred to here as 

the crop interception (or efficiency of application)6. A crop interception of 100% is the goal (i.e., 

that is, as much as possible of the chemical is intercepted by the foliage and not lost in the soil). 

There is a fraction on the leaves that will also degrade (referred to as foliar decay), and a portion 

of it may be washed off of the leaves by rainfall or irrigation into the stream water below the 

foliage. The impact of crop interception on the initial concentration in the rice paddy water is 

potentially significant. If the crop interception is, for example 80%, the acute concentration 

could be reduced potentially by 80%.

2. Pesticide Degradation

Under field conditions, the aerobic soil metabolism is likely to be the main dissipation 

process when the pesticide is applied. The reason is that spirotetramat is applied on dried field 

via foliar ground, aerial or chemigation methods. The aerobic soil metabolism half-lives for 

spirotetramat and for spirotetramat-enol are <1 day. The aerobic soil metabolism half-life of 

spirotetramat-ketohydroxy is 12.38 days. Once the field is flooded, for the total toxic residues 

(i.e., spirotetramat, spirotetramat-enol and spirotetramat-ketohydroxy), the concentration will be 

reduced only slowly through degradation by aerobic aquatic metabolism (aerobic aquatic 

 

6 The hereby named crop interception (or efficiency of application), should not be confused with other variables 

which are input values in PRZM, such as the application efficiency (lb a.i./A), PLDKRT, which is the pesticide 

decay on plant foliage (day-1), and FEXTRC, which is the foliar extraction coefficient for pesticide wash off per 

centimeter of rainfall (cm-1).
9

metabolism is ~1 day for the parent, ~81 days for spirotetramat-enol, and could not be evaluated 

for spirotetramat-ketohydroxy and is thus, considered persistent), and by aquatic photolysis in 

clear, shallow water (aqueous photolysis is 14.4 day for the parent, but no data on degradation

for the TTR, spirotetramat-ketohydroxy could be persistent to that route).

Assuming that the field remains dry for one day and that aerobic soil metabolism takes 

place during that time, the peak (acute) EDWCs for spirotetramat would be reduced potentially 

from 395 ppb to around 373 ppb, and will decrease thereafter slowly through aerobic aquatic 

metabolism. The annual average would be ~214 ppb. If the field remains dry for two days preflood and aerobic soil metabolism takes place during that time, the peak (acute) EDWCs for 

spirotetramat would be reduced potentially from 395 ppb to around 353 ppb, and will decrease 

thereafter slowly through aerobic aquatic metabolism. The annual average would be ~202 ppb.

In the aqueous photolysis study, using sterile water, spirotetramat-ketohydroxy was not 

an observed degradate. If one assumes that the half-life for the enol and the ketohydroxy are

similar to the one for the parent (with a half-life of the order of 14.4 Phoenix, AZ days), the 1 

year mean value would be of the order of 22 ppb. See the Figure 1.

Figure 1. Spirotetramat Concentration vs. Time for Watercress Use Taking Into Account 

Aqueous Photolysis of the Parent Compound

3. Dilution and Flow of Receiving Waters from Cultivated Areas

The amount of pesticide which reaches a moving body of water will be removed in the 

field under actual conditions of watercress cultivation. This would be expected to occur likely at 

the end of the season, downstream from the site at which it is applied by advection in the flowing 

water. The rate of removal depends on the rate of flow through the site. River/stream velocity

varies from day to day based on the volume of flow and changing cross-sectional area. Typical 
10

ranges of velocity vary from zero (at the time of tidal flow direction change) to 7 miles per hour7. 

The pesticide in the flowing water will also spread from the center of mass during the flow. 

Table I.B presents the distance downstream of the center of mass of the applied spirotetramat

after a period of one day for flow rates up to 3 mph. Figure 2 shows a conceptualization of a 

receiving flowing water body of water getting effluents from a watercress field. It is also noted 

that some receiving bodies of water might not be flowing, such as in the case of ponds and 

reservoirs. In such instances, dilution would be the primary process occurring.

Table I.B. Downstream Movement from Site of Application of Spirotetramat

in Flowing Water in One Day

Flow Rate (ft/sec) Flow Rate (mph) Downstream Distance (mi)

0.1 0.1 3.5

0.2 0.3 7.0

0.6 0.9 21.1

1.0 1.5 35.2

1.4 2.1 49.3

1.8 2.6 63.4

2.2 3.2 77.4

Figure 2. Conceptual Model of a Flowing Water Body of Water

Receiving Effluent from a Treated Watercress Field

 

7

http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2006/NervanaGaballa.shtml; see also e.g. the following,

http://www.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/sail/Speed/index.html and http://www.nps.gov/miss/riverfacts.htm all accessed 

07/17/2012. For example, the Ohio River at Pittsburg appears to flow at up to 1.2 mph and the Mississippi River 

ranges from 1.2 to 3 mph depending on the amount of flow and the reach in which it is measured. See also NOAA 

Technical Report NOS CO-OPS 025, “Currents of the St. John River, Florida Spring and Summer of 1998” 

September 1999 (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/techrpt25.pdf; accessed 07/17/2012).
11

4. Modeling Spirotetramat-ketohydroxy Only

Besides degradation, one could assume that the only species occurring in the field would 

be spirotetramat-ketohydroxy. The reason is the relatively short aerobic half-lives of the parent 

compound and of spirotetramat-enol. If that is the case, the EDWCs will be smaller because 

spirotetramat-ketohydroxy molecular weight is smaller than for the parent compound. As a 

result, the predicted EDWCs would be proportionally reduced. If the transformation of 

spirotetramat to spirotetramat-ketohydroxy is quantitative, the seasonal equivalent “application 

rate” would be as follows:

 Rate = (0.40 lb parent/A) (317.39 g spirotetramat-ketohydroxy/mol) / (373.45 g parent/mol)

 Rate = 0.34 lb spirotetramat-ketohydroxy/A/season

This value is ~15% smaller than the one modeled using the application rate for the parent.

C. Conclusions for Surface Waters

In conclusion, the Tier 1 Rice Model v.1.0 is conservative. It is apparent that the 

combination of crop interception, pesticide degradation, stream flow, and runoff dilution from 

the areas in the watershed which are not treated (see Tables I.A and I.B), has the potential to 

reduce the conservative EDWCs provided in Table 1-1.
12

Appendix II

Groundwater EDWCs

Bananas are also considered a minor use. “US banana production is very limited; in 

2009, US total banana production reached almost 7,000 mmt, or 0.01% of the total world 

production, on an estimated 16,000 acres. Hawaii is by far the largest banana producer in the 

United States, followed by Florida.”8 The NASS shows, however, that the banana acreage in HI 

in 2008 was only 1,300 A.9

The modeling approach for groundwater calculations was described in the previous DWA

(DP Barcode D345275, dated 01/22/2008). Thus, focus is placed only in the changes related to 

the application rate. The application rates are calculated in the same way (see sample calculation 

of the application rate in the previous DWA). The tables of input parameters follow.

A. Input Values for Groundwater

Tables II.A, II.B and II.C provide the input parameter values in SCI-GROW, in modeling 

groundwater.

Table II.A. SCI-GROW (v2.3) input parameter values for spirotetramat use on bananas 

and plantains1

PARAMETER (units) VALUE(S) SOURCE COMMENT

Maximum Application Rate

(lb a.i./A) 0.25 Proposed label. Maximum single application rate in five applications on bananas and plantains.

Number of Applications per Year 5 Proposed label. –

Organic Carbon Partition 

Coefficient (Koc; mL/g) 237 OECD 

Monograph 

Annex B. 

Spirotetramat. 

B.8 Fate and 

Behaviour

Represents the median of five values as 

follows: 184, 437, 201, 385, 237 mL/gOC for 

the parent compound (KOC does not show

more than a three-fold variation among 

values).

Aerobic Soil Metabolism Half-life 

(days) 0.25

Represents the median value, since there are 

four or more values (FL SL, t1/2 = 0.30 days;

SL, t1/2 = 0.24 days; SiL, t1/2 = 0.26 days; Si,

t1/2 = 0.09 days).

1 Parameters are selected as per Guidance for Selecting Input Parameters in Modeling the Environmental Fate and Transport of 

Pesticides; Version 2.1, 10/22/2009 (http://www.epa.gov/oppefed1/models/water/input_parameter_guidance.htm 07/17/12).

 

8

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe901 (accessed 07/19/2012).

9

http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Hawaii/Publications/Fruits_and_Nuts/annban.pdf (accessed 

07/18/2012). See also http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/hibananas.html.
13

Table II.B. SCI-GROW (v2.3) input parameter values for transformation product 

spirotetramat-enol use on bananas and plantains1

PARAMETER (units) VALUE(S) SOURCE COMMENT

Maximum Application Rate

(lb a.i./A) 0.202 Proposed label.

It is assumed that the transformation is 

quantitative in the aerobic soil metabolism 

study. Maximum concentration observed in 

the aerobic soil metabolism study or 100% 

by application rate by mole ratio = 

(1.00)(0.25)(301.39/373.45) = 0.202 lb 

a.i./A for bananas and plantains

Number of Applications per Year 5 Proposed label. –

Organic Carbon Partition 

Coefficient (Koc; mL/g) 27 OECD 

Monograph 

Annex B. 

Spirotetramat. 

B.8 Fate and 

Behaviour

Represents the lowest of four values as 

follows: 27, 65, 29 and 99 mL/gOC for the 

parent compound (there is greater than a 

three-fold variation among values).

Aerobic Soil Metabolism Half-life 

(days) 0.035

Represents the median value, since there are 

four or more values (FL SL, t1/2 = 0.30 days;

SL, t1/2 = 0.02 days; SiL, t1/2 = 0.16 days; Si,

t1/2 = 0.02 days). It is noted that there is 

more than 5-fold difference from the lowest 

to the highest values.

1 Parameters are selected as per Guidance for Selecting Input Parameters in Modeling the Environmental Fate and Transport of 

Pesticides; Version 2.1, 10/22/2009 (http://www.epa.gov/oppefed1/models/water/input_parameter_guidance.htm 07/17/12).

Table II.C. SCI-GROW (v2.3) input parameter values for transformation product 

spirotetramat-ketohydroxy use on bananas and plantains1

PARAMETER (units) VALUE(S) SOURCE COMMENT

Maximum Application Rate

(lb a.i./A) 0.0510 Proposed label.

Maximum concentration observed in the 

aerobic soil metabolism study by application 

rate by mole ratio = 

(0.240)(0.25)(317.39/373.45) = 0.0510 lb 

a.i./A for bananas and plantains

Number of Applications per Year 5 Proposed label. –

Organic Carbon Partition 

Coefficient (Koc; mL/g) 48.1 OECD 

Monograph 

Annex B. 

Spirotetramat. 

B.8 Fate and 

Behaviour

Represents the median of five values as 

follows: 43.1, 48.1, 42.0, 99.7 and 93.7 

mL/gOC for the parent compound (there is 

less than a three-fold variation among 

values).

Aerobic Soil Metabolism Half-life 

(days) 4.65

Represents the median value, since there are 

four or more values (FL sandy loam, t1/2 = 

16.7 days; Sandy loam, t1/2 = 4.2 days; Silt 

loam, t1/2 = 5.1 days; Silt, t1/2 = 1.5 days). 

There is more than 5-fold difference from 

the lowest to the highest values.

1 Parameters are selected as per Guidance for Selecting Input Parameters in Modeling the Environmental Fate and Transport of 

Pesticides; Version 2.1, 10/22/2009 (http://www.epa.gov/oppefed1/models/water/input_parameter_guidance.htm 07/17/12).
14

B. Resulting Values for Groundwater

Table II.D summarizes the groundwater estimates from SCI-GROW. For the total residues 

(spirotetramat, spirotetramat-enol and spirotetramat-ketohydroxy) the EDWC, suitable for acute 

and chronic exposure, is 1.24 x 10-3ppb.

Table II.D. Maximum Tier I Estimated Drinking Water Concentrations (EDWCs) for drinking 

water risk assessment based on aerial application on bananas and plantains at 1.25 lb a.i./A/season

Drinking 

Water Source 

(Model)

Type of 

Exposure

ESTIMATED DRINKING WATER CONCENTRATION (EDWC) 

( ppb)

Spirotetramat

SpirotetramatenolSpirotetramatketohydroxyTotal 

Residues

Ground-water 

(SCI-GROW)

Acute and 

Chronic 7.06 x 10-5

5.15 x 10-51.12 x 10-31.24 x 10-3

C. Output Files from SCI-GROW

 SCIGROW

VERSION 2.3

 ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND EFFECTS DIVISION

 OFFICE OF PESTICIDE PROGRAMS

 U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 SCREENING MODEL

 FOR AQUATIC PESTICIDE EXPOSURE

SciGrow version 2.3

chemical:Spirotetramat

time is 5/29/2012 11: 7: 9

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Application Number of Total Use Koc Soil Aerobic

 rate (lb/acre) applications (lb/acre/yr) (ml/g) metabolism (days)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 0.250 5.0 1.250 2.37E+02 0.2

------------------------------------------------------------------------

groundwater screening cond (ppb) = 7.06E-05 

************************************************************************
15

 SCIGROW

 VERSION 2.3

 ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND EFFECTS DIVISION

 OFFICE OF PESTICIDE PROGRAMS

 U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 SCREENING MODEL

 FOR AQUATIC PESTICIDE EXPOSURE

SciGrow version 2.3

chemical:Spirotetramat(enol)

time is 5/29/2012 11: 9:58

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Application Number of Total Use Koc Soil Aerobic

 rate (lb/acre) applications (lb/acre/yr) (ml/g) metabolism (days)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 0.202 5.0 1.010 2.70E+01 0.0

------------------------------------------------------------------------

groundwater screening cond (ppb) = 5.15E-05 

************************************************************************

 SCIGROW

VERSION 2.3

 ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND EFFECTS DIVISION

 OFFICE OF PESTICIDE PROGRAMS

 U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 SCREENING MODEL

 FOR AQUATIC PESTICIDE EXPOSURE

SciGrow version 2.3

chemical:Spirotetramat-keto(hydroxy)

time is 5/29/2012 11:11:52

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Application Number of Total Use Koc Soil Aerobic

 rate (lb/acre) applications (lb/acre/yr) (ml/g) metabolism (days)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 0.051 5.0 0.255 4.81E+01 4.7

------------------------------------------------------------------------

groundwater screening cond (ppb) = 1.12E-03 

************************************************************************
16

Appendix III

Use Characterization

Table IIIA is a summary of all agricultural use patterns for spirotetramat in the labels for 

BYI 8330 150 OD Insecticide (oil dispersion, Reg. No. 264-1051), MOVENTO®SC (suspension 

concentrate, Reg. No. 264-1050), and the ULTOR® (suspension concentrate, Reg. No. 264-

1075). The uses shaded yellow are the proposed new ones while the uses bold and underlined

are the modeled ones.

Table IIIA. Summary use information for spirotetramat based on labels for BYI 8330 150 OD 

Insecticide), MOVENTO®and ULTOR®. The new uses are shaded yellow.

USE

SINGLE 

APP. RATE 

(lb. a.i./A)

NUMBER 

OF APPS.

SEASONAL 

APP. RATE 

(lb. a.i./A)

INTERVAL 

BETWEEN 

APPS. (days)

APP.

METHOD

PHI 

(days)

Soybean 0.08 2 0.16 7 G*, A 21

Tropical Fruits (acerola, avocado, 

black sapote, canistel, feijoa, guava, 

longan, lychee, mamey sapote, 

mango, papaya, passionfruit, 

persimmon, pulasan, rambutan, 

sapodilla, Spanish lime, star apple, 

starfruit, wax jambo, white sapote, 

jaboticaba)

0.16 3 0.40 14 G*, A, 

Airblast

1

Legume Vegetables (Crop 

Group 6, except dry soybean) 

(Edible Podded and Succulent 

Shelled Pea and Bean and Dried 

Shelled Pea and Bean

Bean (Lupinus spp., including grain 

lupin, sweet lupin, white lupin, and 

white sweet lupin)

Bean (Phaseolus spp., including 

field bean, kidney bean, lima bean, 

navy bean, pinto bean, runner bean, 

snap bean, tepary bean, wax bean)

Bean (Vigna spp., including adzuki 

bean, asparagus bean, blackeyed 

pea, catjang, Chinese longbean, 

cowpea, Crowder pea, moth bean, 

mung bean, rice bean, Southern pea, 

urd bean, yardlong bean)

Pea (Pisum spp. including dwarf 

pea, edible-pod pea, English pea, 

field pea, garden pea, green pea, 

snow pea, sugar snap pea)

Other Beans and Peas (Broad bean 

(fava), Chickpea (garbanzo bean), 

Guar, Jackbean, Lablab bean 

(hyacinth bean), Lentil, Pigeon pea, 

soybean (immature seed), Sword 

bean) 

0.08 2 0.16 7 G*, A, C 1 edible 

podded, 

succulent 

beans and 

peas; 7 

dry 

shelled 

beans and 

peas

Globe artichoke 0.12 ~5 0.5 7 G, A, C 3
17

Table IIIA. Summary use information for spirotetramat based on labels for BYI 8330 150 OD 

Insecticide), MOVENTO®and ULTOR®. The new uses are shaded yellow.

USE

SINGLE 

APP. RATE 

(lb. a.i./A)

NUMBER 

OF APPS.

SEASONAL 

APP. RATE 

(lb. a.i./A)

INTERVAL 

BETWEEN 

APPS. (days)

APP.

METHOD

PHI 

(days)

Citrus Fruit (Crop Group 10-10, 

including, calamondin, citrus citron, 

citrus hybrids like chironja, tangelo 

and tangor, grapefruit, kumquat, 

lemon, lime, mandarin or tangelo, 

sweet and sour orange, pummelo, 

Satsuma mandarin, Australian lime 

(desert, finger, and round), Brown 

River finger lime, Japanese summer 

grapefruit, Mediterranean mandarin, 

Mount White lime, New Guinea 

wild lime, Russell River lime, sweet 

lime, Tachibana orange, Tahiti lime, 

Trifoliate orange, uniq fruit, 

including cultivars, varieties and/or 

hybrids of these commodities)

0.16 2 0.32 21 G*, A, 

Airblast

1

Grape and Small Fruit Vine 

Climbing Crop Subgroup 13-

07F (except Fuzzy kiwifruit/ 

includes grape, gooseberry, maypop, 

Schisandra berry, hardy kiwifruit)

0.13 2 0.2 30 G*, A, 

Airblast

7

Pome Fruit (Crop Group 11-10, 

including apple, crabapple, loquat, 

mayhaw, pear, Asian pear, quince, 

azarole, Chinese quince, Japanese 

quince, medlar, tejocote, hybrids, 

cultivars and/or varieties of these)

0.14 3 0.4 14 G*, A, 

Airblast

7

Stone Fruit (Crop Group 12, 

including apricot, sweet and tart 

cherry, nectarine, peach, plumvarious kinds, plumcot, and fresh 

and dried prune)

0.14 2 0.24 14 G*, A, 

Airblast

7

Tree Nuts (Crop Group 14 plus

pistachio, including almond, 

beechnut, Brazil nut, butternut, 

cashew, chestnut, chinquapin, filbert 

or hazelnut, hickory nut, macadamia 

nut or bush nut, pecan, pistachio, 

black walnut, and English or Persian 

walnut)

0.14 3 0.34 14 G*, A, 

Airblast

7

Hops 0.10 2 0.2 14 G*, A, 

Airblast

7

Christmas Tree Plantations 0.16 2 0.32 14 G*, A, 

Airblast

N/A
18

Table IIIA. Summary use information for spirotetramat based on labels for BYI 8330 150 OD 

Insecticide), MOVENTO®and ULTOR®. The new uses are shaded yellow.

USE

SINGLE 

APP. RATE 

(lb. a.i./A)

NUMBER 

OF APPS.

SEASONAL 

APP. RATE 

(lb. a.i./A)

INTERVAL 

BETWEEN 

APPS. (days)

APP.

METHOD

PHI 

(days)

Fruiting Vegetables (Crop 

Group 8-10 including eggplant, 

groundcherry, okra, pepinos, bell 

and non-bell pepper (cayenne, chili 

pepper, habanero, jalapeno, pablano, 

pimento and serranero), tomatillo,

tomato, African eggplant, Bush 

tomato, cocona, currant tomato, 

garden huckleberry, goji berry, 

martynia, naranjilla, pea eggplant, 

roselle, scarlet eggplant, sunberry, 

tree tomato, including varieties and/ 

or hybrids of these commodities)

0.08 2 0.16 7 G, A, C 1

Leafy Vegetables (Crop Group 4

including amaranth-various kinds, 

arugula-roquette, cardoon, celery, 

celtuce, chervil, Chinese celery, 

chrysanthemum, corn salad, garden 

cress, cress-various kinds, 

dandelion, sorrel dock, endive, 

Florence fennel, lettuce-head and 

leaf, orach, parsley, garden and 

winter purslane, radicchio or red 

chicory, rhubarb, spinach-various 

kinds, Swiss chard, taro leaves)

0.08 2 0.16 7 G, A, C 3

Brassica (Cole) Leafy 

Vegetables (Crop Group 5

including broccoli, broccoli raab, 

Brussels sprouts, cabbage, 

cauliflower, cavalo broccolo, 

Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage

(bok choy), Chinese cabbage (napa), 

Chinese mustard cabbage (gai 

choy), collards, kale, kohlrabi, 

mizuna, mustard greens, mustard 

spinach, rape greens)

0.08 2 0.16 7 G, A, C 1

Potato and Other Tuberous and 

Corm Vegetables (Crop 

Subgroup 1C including arracacha, 

arrowroot, Chinese and Jerusalem 

artichoke, edible canna, bitter and 

sweet cassava, chayote-root, chufa, 

dasheen or taro, ginger, leren, 

potato, sweet potato, tanier, 

turmeric, yam bean, true yam)

0.08 2 0.16 7 G, A, C 7
19

Table IIIA. Summary use information for spirotetramat based on labels for BYI 8330 150 OD 

Insecticide), MOVENTO®and ULTOR®. The new uses are shaded yellow.

USE

SINGLE 

APP. RATE 

(lb. a.i./A)

NUMBER 

OF APPS.

SEASONAL 

APP. RATE 

(lb. a.i./A)

INTERVAL 

BETWEEN 

APPS. (days)

APP.

METHOD

PHI 

(days)

Bushberry and Low Growing 

Berry Subgroups (Crop 

Subgroups 13-07B and 13-07H

including aronia berry, bearberry, 

bilberry, blueberry (highbush and 

lowbush), Chilean guava, 

cloudberry, cranberry10, currant 

(black, buffalo, native, and red), 

elderberry, European barberry, 

gooseberry, edible honeysuckle, 

jostaberry, Juneberry, muntries, 

lingonberry, Partridgeberry, salal, 

sea buckthorn, and cultivars, 

varieties, and/or hybrids of these)

0.16 3 0.47 7 G*, A, 

Airblast

7

Watercress11 0.2 2 0.4 7 G, A, C 3

Banana and Plantains12 0.25 5 1.25 14 G*, A, 

Airblast

1

Coffee 0.16 3 0.47 21 G*, A, 

Airblast

14

Pineapple 0.16 2 0.32 14 G*, A, 

Airblast

1

Pomegranate 0.16 2 0.32 14 G*, A, 

Airblast

1

Bulb Vegetables

Crops of Crop Subgroup 3-07A

(including: daylily (bulb), fritillaria 

(bulb), garlic (bulbs of common, 

great-headed, serpent), lily (bulb), 

onion (bulbs of common, Chinese, 

pearl, potato onion), shallot (bulb), 

plus cultivars, varieties, and/or 

hybrids of these);

Crops of Crop Subgroup 3-07B, 

(including: Chinese chive (fresh 

leaves), chive (fresh leaves), elegans 

hosta, fritillaria (leaves), kurrat, leek 

(Allium porrum, Lady’s, wild), 

onion (Beltsville bunching, fresh, 

green, macrostem, tree [tops], welsh 

[tops]), shallot (fresh leaves), plus 

cultivars, varieties, and/or hybrids of 

these)

0.08 2 0.16 7 G, A, C 3 for CS 

3-07A;

7 for CS 

3-07B

*High air velocity, low volume or air curtain sprayers; G = ground; A = aerial; C = chemigation

 

10 Cranberry was modeled using the provisional cranberry model, yielding lower EDWCs than watercress.

11 Crop selected to model surface water EDWCs.

12 Crop selected to model groundwater EDWCs.