Environmental Protection Ageny Proposal

[Unicorn]

A step in the right direction!

On December 22, 2009, the EPA announced that it will begin accepting public comments on its proposal to require pesticide product manufacturers, including the makers of flea and tick control products, to disclose inert ingredients on their labels. The manufacturers of pesticide products have long fought to keep such information off of product labels by claiming that it is "confidential business information" (trade secrets).


Currently, pesticide makers must label the "active" ingredients in a pesticide product, but they are not required to identify the so called inert (or other) ingredients, which may be just as toxic (or more toxic) than the active ingredients. Inert ingredients are often added to increase the toxicity of the product's active ingredients. Inert ingredients can be added to enhance dermal penetration and inhibit metabolism. Unfortunately, most of the EPA's risk assessments, which are required to register a pesticide product, only take into consideration the toxicity of the active ingredient -- not the full pesticide formulation.


For more information on inert ingredients and their health implications, go to:


http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Unidentified+inert+ingredients+in+pesticides:+impl ications+

for+human...-a0160559034


For more information on the EPA's proposal, go to:


EPA Press Release


http://www.ombwatch.org/node/10668


http://www.epa.gov/opprd001/inerts/


For detailed information on the EPA's proposal, including possible options, go to:


http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-30408.pdf


The EPA’s proposal outlines general options for inert disclosure on pesticide labels, including mandating disclosure only of potentially hazardous ingredients; mandating disclosure of most or all inert ingredient identities, regardless of hazard; and non-regulatory voluntary disclosure initiatives by pesticide registrants. The proposal solicits ideas for both regulatory and non-regulatory approaches and sets forth a series of questions for comment. EPA believes participation and comment by the public is important for developing workable and effective solutions.


Public comments must be received by the EPA on or before February 22, 2010.


To submit a comment to the EPA on the above proposal, go to:


http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment


Comments submitted to the EPA are available for public viewing here:


http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#docketDetail?R=EPA-HQ-OPP-

2009-0635


This issue affects your ability to independently assess the health implications of pesticide products that you and your family may be exposed to. Please let the EPA

know that full disclosure of inert ingredients is important to you!

[johnderondon]

How can something inert (i.e. chemically inactive) be toxic?

[Unicorn]

Originally Posted by johnderondon

How can something inert (i.e. chemically inactive) be toxic?

Inert ingredients are often added to increase the toxicity of the product's active ingredients.

[kazschow]

How does this work... what would the inert ingredient likely be, and what would the active ingredient be it's affecting Unicorn?

[Unicorn]

As the manufacturers consider their inert ingredients a 'trade secret' your guess is as good as mine.

If you read the links there will be more info there.

[johnderondon]

Unicorn - your OP claims that inert ingredients can be as toxic (or more) as the active ingredients. I don't understand how a chemically inactive substance can be toxic to such a degree.

Inert ingredients are often added to increase the toxicity of the product's active ingredients.

This is different as it refers to the increased toxicity of the active ingredient, not the inert ingredient. That could be achieved, for example, by an inert ingredient providing enhanced absorbtion or transport into the system of the active ingredient and without any reference to the toxicity (or lack of) of the inert substance.

I think disclosure is a generally beneficial so, even though I don't understand the issue here, I hope this progresses.

[Mynona.]

Without a chemistry degree, I very much doubt that anyone would be able to assess the product anyway.

Again, back to data needed. If vets could check countrywide and be alerted to any product having adverse effects then surely that product would have to be removed from circulation or have dosages/ingredients amended to ensure as near absolute safety of use as is possible.

[Unicorn]

Again, back to data needed. If vets could check countrywide and be alerted to any product having adverse effects then surely that product would have to be removed from circulation or have dosages/ingredients amended to ensure as near absolute safety of use as is possible.

This will never happen because pesticides by their very nature are harmful.