On Jul 23, 2013, ICAMA invited peer review on the risk assessment report of fly coil incense products. After a briefing on the findings of the assessment conducted by the working group, the experts agreed to adopt the risk assessment report when granting ICAMA registration.
Fly coil incense has been increasingly popular in China for its “cost-effectiveness”. From 2002 to 2010, 92 from 78 distinct manufacturers have been registered with ICAMA. However, the high content of pyrethroid might pose potential risk to human health when the products are combusted in residential areas. At the 7th session of the 8th National Expert Committee for Pesticide Registration in 2010, it was decided to suspend new registration submission and registration extension on all fly coil incense products. However, the decision was met with strong opposition from industry. Thus the 11th session of the Expert Committee suggested ICAMA to further conduct a risk assessment on the product but maintain the suspension. (See Chemlinked News released on Nov 20 2012).
ICAMA collected sufficient statistical data based on pesticide registration and toxicological studies and determined appropriate safety thresholds. The oral, dermal and inhalation pathways are included in the exposure assessment of this insecticide. Finally, the health risks of chlorempenthrin and other 6 pyrethroids were assessed through 5 indoor and outdoor exposure scenarios.
It was the first time China had conducted the comprehensive human health risks on household pesticides. Ye Jiming, vice director of ICAMA, was appreciative of the efforts made by the working groups and the experts. He suggested the work conducted on fly coil incense would be a valuable precedent and it should be introduced into the risk assessment on other types of residential pesticide.
