{"hq_id":"hq-p-spe-000132","name":"Fumigant Soil Treatment (Methyl Bromide Phase-Out, 1,3-Dichloropropene, Buffer Zones)","category":{"primary":"specialized","secondary":"agriculture","tags":["fumigant","methyl bromide","1,3-dichloropropene","Telone","soil","buffer zone","ozone","strawberry"]},"product_tier":"SPE","overall_risk_level":"high","description":"Soil fumigants sterilize soil before planting high-value crops (strawberries, tomatoes, nursery stock). Methyl bromide: ozone-depleting substance phased out under Montreal Protocol — US still grants Critical Use Exemptions (CUEs) for pre-plant soil fumigation where no alternatives exist. Replacement: 1,3-dichloropropene (Telone/1,3-D) — probable carcinogen (IARC 2B), with required buffer zones (100-500 ft from occupied structures). Chloropicrin: tear gas agent used as warning agent in fumigant mixtures and as standalone fumigant. Community exposure: fumigant drift causes acute respiratory symptoms, eye irritation. California: heaviest fumigant use state — DPR tracks all applications, requires township caps for 1,3-D.","synthesis":{"derived_risk_level":"moderate","synthesis_confidence":0.625,"synthesis_method":"compound_composition","context_used":"human_child","context_source":"product_users","exposure_modifier":1.1,"vulnerability_escalated":true,"escalation_reason":"Child exposure group","compounds_resolved":3,"compounds_total":3,"synthesis_date":"2026-05-09","synthesis_version":"1.2.0","methodology_note":"exposure_modifier and adjusted_magnitude are computed from ALETHEIA-calibrated heuristics (route × duration × frequency multipliers, clamped to [0.5, 1.4]). Multipliers are directionally informed by EPA Exposure Factors Handbook (2011) and CalEPA OEHHA but are not regulatory consensus. See /api/methodology for full disclosure."},"hazard_summary":{"sensitive_populations":"farmworkers (acute respiratory), communities near fumigated fields, asthmatics, children","overall_risk":"high","primary_concerns":["Methyl bromide: ozone depleter, acute neurotoxicity","1,3-Dichloropropene (Telone): IARC 2B probable carcinogen","Chloropicrin: tear gas agent — acute eye/respiratory at very low concentrations","Community drift exposure from agricultural fumigation"],"exposure_routes":"Inhalation (fumigant vapors — primary route for both workers and communities)"},"exposure":{"routes":["inhalation"],"contact_types":["inhalation"],"users":["adult","child"],"duration":"hours_to_days","frequency":"seasonal","scenarios":["Farmworker: fumigant application and tarp removal (acute respiratory)","Community: fumigant drift from adjacent fields (eye/respiratory irritation)","Chloropicrin exposure: tear gas symptoms from drift","Residential proximity within buffer zone (100-500 ft)"],"notes":"Methyl bromide Montreal Protocol phase-out: developed countries 2005, developing 2015. US CUEs: declining but still granted for strawberry pre-plant. 1,3-D (Telone): California DPR township caps to limit community exposure. Buffer zones: EPA requires 25-500 ft depending on fumigant and application method. Chloropicrin: OSHA PEL 0.1 ppm — extremely lachrymatory (tear gas), used as warning agent. Alternatives to soil fumigation: solarization, biofumigation (mustard cover crops), anaerobic soil disinfestation, grafted transplants, resistant varieties."},"consumer_guidance":{"usage_warning":"If you live near agricultural fields: check if soil fumigation is used (public records in California; ask county agricultural commissioner). During fumigation season: keep windows closed, stay indoors if you smell chemicals or experience eye/respiratory irritation. Report drift incidents to county ag commissioner and state pesticide agency. Advocate for expanded buffer zones.","safer_alternatives":["Soil solarization (plastic tarps + solar heat — no chemicals)","Biofumigation (mustard family cover crops release natural fumigants)","Anaerobic soil disinfestation (organic matter + water + tarp)","Grafted transplants on disease-resistant rootstock"]},"regulatory":{"applicable_regulations":[{"jurisdiction":"USA","regulation":"EPA Soil Fumigant Risk Mitigation (2012) + Montreal Protocol CUEs","citation":"EPA Soil Fumigant Reregistration (2012); Montreal Protocol","requirements":"Buffer zones: 25-500 ft from occupied structures. Fumigant management plans required. Tarp period requirements. WPS applies. Methyl bromide: CUEs granted annually for specific crops.","compliance_status":null,"effective_date":"2012-12-01","enforcing_agency":"EPA / State agriculture depts","penalties":"FIFRA violation penalties","source_ref":null}],"certifications":[],"labeling":{"required_disclosures":[],"prop65_warning":{"required":null,"chemicals":[],"endpoint":null,"notes":null},"ghs_labeling":{"required":null,"signal_word":null,"pictograms":[],"hazard_statements":[],"notes":null},"hidden_ingredients":{"trade_secret_protected":null,"categories_hidden":[],"estimated_count":null,"known_concerns":null,"notes":null},"notes":null},"recalls":[],"regulatory_gap":null,"notes":null},"lifecycle":{"recyclable":false,"disposal_guidance":"Fumigant containers: FIFRA disposal per label. Tarps: regular waste.","hazardous_waste":true,"expected_lifespan":"single_use"},"formulation":{"form":"varies","key_ingredients":[],"certifications":[]},"materials":{"common":[],"concerning":[],"preferred":[]},"compound_composition":[{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000136","compound_name":null,"role":"fumigant","typical_concentration":null},{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000838","compound_name":null,"role":"fumigant","typical_concentration":null},{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000017","compound_name":null,"role":"pesticide","typical_concentration":null}],"identifiers":{"common_names":["fumigant soil treatment (methyl bromide phase-out, 1,3-dichloropropene, buffer zones)"],"aliases":[],"manufacturer":null,"brands":[]},"brand_examples":[{"brand":"Dow AgroSciences","manufacturer":"Corteva","market_position":"professional","notable":"Agricultural fumigant manufacturer"},{"brand":"AMVAC","manufacturer":"AMVAC Chemical","market_position":"professional","notable":"Soil fumigant producer"},{"brand":"TriEst Ag Group","manufacturer":"TriEst Ag Group","market_position":"professional","notable":"Fumigation service provider"}],"brand_examples_disclaimer":"Representative branded products of this category. Concerning ingredients listed in materials.concerning[] apply to the category, not necessarily to every named brand. Specific formulations vary by SKU and may have changed since this record was written; consult the brand's current ingredient label before drawing brand-level conclusions.","sources":[{"type":"expert_curation","name":"ALETHEIA Safety Database","date":"2026-03-25"},{"type":"regulation","title":"EPA Soil Fumigant Risk Mitigation (2012) + Montreal Protocol CUEs (EPA Soil Fumigant Reregistration (2012); Montreal Protocol)","jurisdiction":"USA","year":2012,"citation":"EPA Soil Fumigant Reregistration (2012); Montreal Protocol","id":"src_8067b590"},{"id":"atsdr_methyl_bromide_tox","type":"regulatory","title":"ATSDR: Toxicological Profile for Methyl Bromide — Inhalation Toxicity, Neurological Effects, and Occupational Poisoning Cases (2015)","year":2015,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000136"},{"id":"epa_methyl_bromide_registration","type":"regulatory","title":"US EPA: Methyl Bromide — Montreal Protocol Phase-Out, Critical Use Exemptions (CUE), Group D Carcinogenicity, and Occupational Risk Assessment (2005–2018)","year":2018,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000136"},{"id":"src_001","type":"database","title":"PubChem Compound Database","year":2026,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000838"},{"id":"epa_chlorpyrifos_2021","type":"regulatory","title":"US EPA: Chlorpyrifos — Revocation of Food Tolerances","year":2021,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000017"},{"type":"monograph","title":"International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)","jurisdiction":"International","id":"src_d9ebbaf2","extraction":"description_reference"}],"meta":{"schema_version":"4.0.0","last_updated":"2026-03-25","timestamp":"2026-05-14T01:22:13.272Z"}}