[Current situation in Spain of aerosol insect sprays registered for household use by the environmental health authorities].
BACKGROUND
The recent transposition of the Biocides Directive by means of Royal Decree 1054/2002 involves a substantial change in different Environmental Health-related aspects. To assess the impact of these changes, an analysis of the current situation is provided, based on which the consequences of the implementation of this Directive in Spain may be assessed, in addition to setting out the main aspects which must be analyzed with a view to a Biocides Registry being put into place in accordance with the aforementioned Royal Decree.


METHODS
The analysis was made based on the data included in the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs related to aerosol insect sprays registered for Household Use. Aerosols were chosen as a result of their being the type most numerous on the market for household use.


RESULTS
The formulation of these aerosols includes 25 insecticides, 1 disinfectant and 2 synergizers. A majority of the 298 aerosol insect sprays include some pyretroid in their composition, by itself or combined with some other insecticide, disinfectant and/or synergizing compound. Most of these biocides are a mixture of active substances.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the analysis made, the need of setting out new procedures for assessing the effectiveness of the formulas prepared for the use in question (design of standardized testing protocols, assessment of effectiveness on the different pest species, the effect of the mixture of active ingredients, safety timeframes, ...), in addition to the aspects related to toxicology; ecotoxicology or physicochemical characteristics.
Moreno Marí
Josefa
J
Laboratorio de Entomología y Control de Plagas, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado Oficial 2085, 46071 Valencia. josefa.moreno@uv.es
Meliá Llácer
Amparo
A
Oltra Moscardó
María Teresa
MT
Jiménez Peydró
Ricardo
R
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013030:Spain
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D007302:Insect Repellents; D007306:Insecticides; D010575:Pesticides