A wide margin of safety ensures residues remaining in foods are many times lower than the amounts that could actually cause adverse health effects. The first group of pesticides that the EPA is reviewing includes the organophosphate, carbamate, and organochlorine chemical classes. These pesticides seem to pose the greatest risk to human health and because protection of infants and children is a high priority under FQPA, organophosphate tolerances will receive priority review. Presently, the EPA has released preliminary risk assessments for 16 of the organophosphate pesticides. These assessments may be refined in the future if additional health and environmental effects data become available.
Risk assessments are currently underway for additional organophosphates.
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