Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Consumers from Toxic Pet Products

[Traci]

Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Consumers from Toxic Pet Products

New NRDC Analysis Reveals Flea Collars Create Toxic Chemical Residues on Pet Fur that Threaten Human Health

Read more: http://www.nrdc.org/media/2009/090423a.asp

[davet]

is this the first time "The Natural Resources Defense Council "has done this that you know of???

[momPaws]

I thought that years ago about the flea collars and would not use them for that reason.

[Traci]

No, Davet, they have been fighting the EPA for years to get on the ball about organophosphates in pet products use. They were largely responsible for helping get some organophosphates off the market in years past, but the EPA is much too slow to act. The NRDC has also been one of the most outspoken groups to get the EPA's attention to OTC pesticide use in pet products, but until the EPA acknowledges the risks, I'm afraid this is history repeating itself over and over and over. I think sometimes they have to stoop to the EPA's level, in that, the EPA won't do crap about PET products, but if they are a risk to HUMANS, then the EPA is somewhat obligated to act.

And it's not just organophosphates, it's other pesticides as well (pyrethroids and pyrethrins, for example). In a related issue, the EPA posted several OTC flea and tick products on their site last month "under scrutiny", only to pull the list off their site days later, telling consumers they will update the list soon. Meanwhile, they are meeting with manufacturers to discuss the issues, but the public is left in the dark until the EPA decides what actions (if any) might be taken. The EPA's failure to change regulations, testing criteria and respond to consumer complaints against these products has been going on for years and years.