The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reevaluate existing tolerances for pesticide residues in foods within 10 years. EPA must apply an additional 10-fold safety factor in setting tolerances to ensure that food is safe for children and that children will not be harmed from aggregate exposure to pesticides in food and drinking water or from residential sources. The agency must consider available information on the cumulative effects on children of pesticides that act in a similar harmful way. EPA found that the use of chlorpyrifos Dursban (part of a group of pesticides know as organophosphates) on foods frequently eaten by children needs to be reduced and that the household use of this pesticide needs to be eliminated. EPA has not completed aggregate exposure reviews for all 39 organophosphates, but a cumulative assessment will be required for the group. EPA has made progress in reassessing existing tolerances for pesticide residues, but relatively few of the allowable limits have changed as a result of the act's new requirements. EPA is giving priority to high-risk chemicals.

Cover title. "September 2000." "GAO/HEHS-00-175." B-284334--on Page 3." Includes bibliographical references.

Letter -- Appendixes -- Tables -- Figure.