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EPA Continues Efforts to Reduce Animal Testing, Announces Guidance on Fish Testing
Guidance expected to save 240 test animals annually

WASHINGTON (July 15, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took another important step toward implementing Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s directive to reduce animal testing by releasing a new guidance that reduces unnecessary testing on fish.

“This guidance will help EPA take great strides toward our goal of reducing animal testing by 30 percent in the next five years,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “It’s another example of how we can continue to protect human health and the environment and make science-based decisions about pesticide registrations without having to harm animals by testing.”

The guidance clarifies the number of treatment concentrations needed for acceptable fish bioconcentration factor (BCF) studies in the pesticide registration process. EPA routinely requires BCF studies to determine whether pesticide active ingredients can accumulate in fish, enter the food chain, and cause adverse effects in fish-eating predators. Under the new guidance, registrants can forego animal testing when there is enough additional information available to support a registration decision on outdoor pesticides. EPA expects this guidance will save an estimated 240 test animals per year as well as EPA, industry and laboratory resources.

“PETA applauds this step by the EPA to reduce the numbers of fish used in BCF studies,” said Dr. Gina Hilton of the Regulatory Testing Department at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). “This action aligns the U.S. with Europe and saves lives without compromising environmental protection. We look forward to seeing efforts to incorporate in vitro methods into the regulatory decision-making process as well.”

As always, companies seeking registration must ensure study results meet other guideline specifications for BCF studies and that data is scientifically sound.

Last month, EPA announced a work plan that serves as a roadmap for meeting its animal testing reduction goals set forth last year by Administrator Wheeler. The agency also convened a conference in December 2019 to discuss New Approach Methods (NAMS)   for achieving reduced animal testing in chemical safety research and  issued a guidance in February 2020 waiving the testing of pesticides on birds when the information yielded is unnecessary to support a pesticide registration decision.

To read today’s guidance on reducing fish testing, visit: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/bridging-or-waiving-data-requirements. 

To learn more about EPA’s efforts to reduce animal testing, visit: https://www.epa.gov/research/efforts-reduce-animal-testing-epa.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 – 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219

Serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

EPA Reaches Settlement with Property Manager for Alleged Lead-Based Paint Violations in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri

Contact Information: Ben Washburn, [email protected], 913-551-7364

(Lenexa, Kan., July 15, 2020) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement with PMR Properties LLC for alleged violations of lead-based paint regulations under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. The company manages and leases approximately 400 residential housing units in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. According to EPA, PMR Properties was aware of lead-based paint hazards in some of its properties but failed to notify tenants of the potential danger.

“Notification of potential and actual lead hazards by landlords to tenants is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to avoid dangerous lead exposure,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford. EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford. “Tenants must have the ability to make informed decisions, especially when it comes to protecting their children.”

Under the terms of the settlement, which was filed with EPA on July 14, 2020, PMR Properties agreed to pay a $40,800 civil penalty and certified that it is in compliance with the law.

Lead-contaminated dust from chipped or peeling lead-based paint in homes built prior to 1978 is one of the most common causes of elevated blood lead levels in children. Infants and children are especially vulnerable to lead paint exposure because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. They can be exposed from multiple sources and may experience irreversible and lifelong health effects. Lead dust can be generated when lead-based paint deteriorates or is disturbed.

To protect families from exposure to lead from paint, dust and soil, Congress passed the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992. The law directs EPA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to require the disclosure of known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before the sale or lease of most housing built before 1978.

According to EPA’s investigation, the property management company repeatedly failed to distribute required lead hazard information pamphlets to tenants in pre-1978 housing. EPA also alleges that PMR Properties received information from the Iowa Department of Public Health that state inspections of certain properties demonstrated positive test results for lead, and that PMR Properties failed to notify tenants of these known lead hazards or provide the reports before they were obligated under contract to lease the units.

About 3.6 million American households have children under 6 years of age who live in homes with lead exposure hazards. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 500,000 American children between ages 1 and 5 have blood lead levels at or above the CDC blood lead reference value (the level at which CDC recommends public health actions begin). According to the CDC, no safe blood lead level has been identified.

Reducing childhood lead exposure and the associated health impacts is a top priority for EPA.

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EPA’s lead website: www.epa.gov/lead

Lead paint Disclosure Rule: www.epa.gov/lead/real-estate-disclosure

Lead paint RRP Rule: www.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-and-painting-program

Find a Lead-Safe Certified Firm: https://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/pub/index.cfm?do=main.firmSearch

Apply for lead-safe certification: www.epa.gov/lead/getcertified

Lead poisoning awareness infographics: www.epa.gov/lead/shareable-infographics-lead-poisoning-awareness

EPA’s Lead Paint Tip and Complaint Phone Line: www.epa.gov/lead/report-lead-based-paint-complaints-tips-and-violations

Learn more about EPA Region 7: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-7-midwest

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7

Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7