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

Printer-friendly PDF of this factsheet (172 KB)

A large number of pesticides are sprayed on tobacco, a crop grown throughout North Carolina. Tobacco is traditionally one of the largest crops grown in the state, contributing significantly to the state economy. Tobacco is also a chemical-intensive crop, because it requires so many applications of insect-killers, weed-killers, plant growth regulators as well as other types of pesticides. Some of these chemicals are applied to tobacco from airplanes (“aerial application”), which can increase the risk of contaminating neighboring areas with substances that may be toxic. If you live near a tobacco-growing area, you may be exposed to these chemicals through drift or runoff. More information about the chemical names highlighted in bold can be found below. 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 sheet.

Season

Chemical Name

Brand Names

Chemical Class

Uses

Info
Early spring
Imida-cloprid Admire, Advantage, Gaucho,
Imicide, Marathon, Merit, Premier,
Premise, Provado 		Chloro-nicotynal
nitro-guanidine 		Insect control on young plants * 2, 3, 4, 5
Spring and/or fall Acephate Orthene Organo-phosphate Insect control on young plants * 1, 4, 5
Spring Fenimiphos Nemacur Organo-phosphate Insecticide * 1, 4, 7
Late summer/early fall Bacillus thuringiensis Agree, Biobit, Dipel, Foray, Javelin, Lepinox, Xen Tari Biological Insecticide * 1, 2, 4, 5
Spring Thiodan Phaser, Golden Leaf, Endosulfan Chlorinated
hydrocarbon 		Insecticide * 4, 6, 7 (under
endo-sulfan)
Spring Pendi-methilum Prowl dinitro-analine Herbicide * 4
Summer Mefenoxam Ridomil Gold Ec Phenylamide fungicide Fungicide * 1, 4
July Maleic hydrazide Fair 30, MH-30, Sucker Stuff, Retard, Fair Plus Pyrida-zonone fungicide Growth Regulator * 1, 4, 7
July Butralin Sector, Tamex Strobilurin fungicides Growth Regulator 1, 4
July Flumetralin Prime + Dinito-raniline Growth Regulator 4
July Fatty Alcohols Fair 85 Unclassified Growth Regulator 4
Harvest; Aug-Sept Ethephon Cotton Quik, Finish, Prep, Super Boll Ethylene generator Ripening Agent * 4

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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