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Pesticides Commonly Used on Cotton
A Fact Sheet from Toxic Free NC

Printer-friendly PDF of this factsheet (176 KB)

A large number of pesticides are sprayed on cotton, which in North Carolina is primarily grown in the eastern part of the state. Cotton is one of the most chemical-intensive crops in the world, because it requires so many applications of insect-killers, weed-killers, plant growth regulators and other types of pesticides. If you live near a cotton-growing area, you may be exposed to these chemicals through drift or runoff. Some of these chemicals may be applied to cotton fields from airplanes (called aerial application, also known as crop dusting), which can increase the chances of contaminating neighboring areas. Chemicals that may be applied aerially in North Carolina are followed by this symbol: *
You can find more information about these pesticides, including effects on human health and the environment, from the sources listed on the back side of this fact sheet.

Season Chemical Name Brand Names Chemical Class Uses Info
Spring Fluometuron Cotoran, Flomet Urea Weed-killer 1, 4, 7
Spring Pendimethalin Prowl, Pendimax Dinitroaniline Weed-killer * 1, 4
Spring Prometryn Caparol, Cotton-pro, Prometryn 4L, Prometryne 4L, Suprend Triazine Weed-killer * 1, 4
Spring Mepiquat Chloride Pix, Mepex, Mepichlor, Mep42, Mepiquat Extra, Topit Quaternatry Ammonium Compound Plant Growth Regulator * 1, 4
Spring/
Summer 		Aldicarb Temik Carbamate Insecticide 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
Spring/
Summer 		Acephate Orthene, Acephate Organo-phosphate Insecticide * 1, 3, 4, 5
Spring/
Summer		 Phorate Thimet, Phorate Organo-phosphate Insecticide * 1, 4, 7
Spring/
Summer
Cyfluthrin** search under
“pyrethroids” 		Baythroid Synthetic Pyrethroid Insecticide * 1, 2, 3, 4 (3, 5, 6)*
Spring/
Summer
Glyphosate Roundup WeatherMax, Touchdown Phospho-noglycine Weed-killer; used throughout the season* 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Summer/
Fall 		MSMA MSMA, Ansar, Agri Star Weed-Hoe,AgriSolutions 912 Herbicide, Bueno 6, Clean Crop MSMA 6.6, Target 6.6 Organo-arsenical Weed-killer and defoliant 1, 4
Fall Mono-carbamide
dihydrogen sulfate 		Cottonquik, Wilthin, Engame Inorganic Plant Growth Regulator, Weed-killer * 1, 4
Fall Ethephon Super Boll, Cottonquik, Mature, Finish,
Prep, Ethrel 		Organo-phosphate Plant Growth Regulator.
* 		1, 4
Fall Tribufos DEF6, Folex, Tribufos Organo-phosphate Plant Growth Regulator,
Defoliant. *		 1, 4
Fall Dimethipin Harvade, Lintplus,
Leafless Harvest 		unclassified Plant Growth Regulator, Defoliant * 1, 4
Spring
and/or Fall 		Paraquat Gramoxone Max, Starfire Bipyridylium Weed-killer, Defoliant *
 1, 2, 3, 4, 7

Where to find more information about pesticide hazards

The following are different sources of information about how pesticides may affect human health and the environment. Internet addresses and contact information are provided for all sources, however we can also provide you with free copies of most of this information. Call toll-free: 1-877-NO SPRAY or email us to request copies.

  1. Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisoning (book) by Reigart & Roberts, 5th edition (1999), U.S. EPA. This is an excellent handbook for health care providers. Note that information about pesticides is grouped by chemical class, not by the pesticide name or active ingredient. Available free, in Spanish or English, from the US EPA by calling (703) 305-7666, or online at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/safety/healthcare/handbook/handbook.htm.

  2. Pesticide Fact Sheets (articles) from NCAP, published in the Journal of Pesticide Reform (magazine). Available by calling (541) 344-5044 or online at: http://www.pesticide.org/factsheets.html. These are in-depth articles about pesticide active ingredients, and they cover environmental as well as health effects. Free on the web; $4 to $6 each if sent by mail.

  3. Chemical Watch Fact Sheets (articles) from Beyond Pesticides. Available free by calling (202) 543-5450 or online at: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticides/factsheets/index.htm.These are two- to three-page articles about pesticide active ingredients that cover both
    environmental and human health effects.

  4. PAN Pesticides Database (website) from Pesticide Action Network. This is a searchable database that provides current toxicity and regulatory information for almost all pesticides. Search by product name or chemical name. Available only on the web: http://www.pesticideinfo.org. The PAN database also includes a Pesticide Poisoning Diagnostic Tool designed to help healthcare providers recognize, manage and report pesticide-related illnesses. It can help identify a pesticide or class of pesticides that may be responsible for a pesticide-related illness. This resource also provides information for reporting a known or suspected pesticide poisoning: http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Search_Poisoning.jsp

  5. NPIC Fact Sheets (website) from the National Pesticide Information Center (sponsored by Oregon State University and EPA). NPIC’s Fact Sheets provide basic information for consumers about various pesticide products, which are listed by active ingredient on the website: http://npic.orst.edu/npicfact.htm. The fact sheets are written in simple language and are easy for most people to understand. NPIC also maintains a toll-free telephone service for pesticide information (1-800-858-7378), and lists emergency treatment information for humans and animals.

  6. ToxFAQ’s (website) from the US Centers for Disease Control’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. These are short summaries of basic health information about many contaminants that are commonly found at hazardous waste sites, including some pesticides. These are written in simple language and are easy for most people to understand; many are also in Spanish. Only available on the website: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html.

  7. Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets (website) from the New Jersey Department of Health. These are summaries of health information about many environmental contaminants, including some pesticides. They are designed for people who are exposed to these chemicals at work, and they are written in simple language and are easy for most people to understand. Available in English and in Spanish on the website: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/rtkhsfs.htm

 
 
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