EPA Sued Over Pesticide In Pet Flea Collars Feared To Cause Neurological Damage In Kids

Image courtesy of veterinary.answers.com.

The Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) has filed a lawsuit this month against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because the agency has failed, after years of petitions from the group, to remove two pesticides from pet flea collars – propoxur and tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP).  They are known to cause neurological and other problems in small animals, and are considered possible and probable human carcinogens.

Miriam Rotkin-Ellman, a scientist with the NRDC’s health and environment program, expressed on her blog that while the EPA has made progress in that while “most neurotoxic pesticides have been banned or severely restricted for use in the home, propoxur and TCVP in flea collars have been overlooked and continue to pose a serious health threat.

“In November of 2007 and April of 2009, we brought this oversight to the attention of the EPA and filed formal petitions seeking a ban on pet uses of the pesticides because of the risks to kids. Unfortunately, all these years later, EPA has still not responded to those petitions and we have to go to court to get action to protect families.”

All pesticides that are sold and distributed in the United States have to be registered and approved by the EPA. The agency has acknowledged the risks of the pesticides, and has sought public comments on the issue, but has yet to take any action in banning them in pet flea collar products.

The EPA classifies propoxur as a carbamate insecticide used to control ants, roaches, and hornets in and around residences and commercial food handling establishments. The formulations include aerosols, baits, dusts and powders, pest strips, shelf paper, ready-to-use solutions, and pet flea collars.

The EPA acknowledges that propoxur poses a “potential carcinogenic risk to pest control operators and the general public during indoor and outdoor applications, and risks to occupants of buildings treated with propoxur products.”

For occupational use, the agency requires that professional applicators use “personal protective clothing, including long-sleeve shirts, long pants, chemical resistant gloves, and shoes plus sox.” The EPA says it “believes that there are no other reasonable measures that could be imposed to further reduce risk.”

Another issue of concern that the agency acknowledges is that propoxur can persist in effectiveness for months when disseminated and can be mobile.

The irony here is that there are protective requirements for professional use, but open unrestricted exposure is allowed for homes via pet flea collars or other forms of dissemination. 

Rotkin-Ellman explained during the announcement of the lawsuit that, “These flea collars leave a toxic residue on pets’ fur, exposing children to chemicals which have harmful effects on their brains, similar to those from lead. Once on a child’s skin, the pesticide is absorbed through the skin or it can be ingested when a child puts their hand in their mouth.

“Propoxur and TCVP are types of pesticides that are known to be toxic to brain development, nervous system communication, and can cause cancer. Children are particularly vulnerable because their small bodies are still developing and their activities, such as putting hands in their mouths after petting animals or playing, increases the likelihood and amount of these pesticides than can enter their bodies.”

TCVP, commonly referred to by the trade names Rabon and Gardona, is an organophosphate insecticide that’s cleared for use on livestock and pets, and was also used as an insecticide for crops until 1987 when its use was voluntarily canceled for that purpose.

TCVP is also still used for pet sleeping areas and flea collars. It comes in formulations including: wettable powders, dusts, granules, ready-to-use liquids, and impregnated materials such as pet collars.

The EPA found that mice and rats exposed to TCVP had increased incidence of carcinoma and lesions of the liver, as well as other issues including miscarriage, red vaginal fluids, and reduced weight gain.

The irony of use for TCVP is that the EPA gives safety instructions for professional applicators, which is to wear protective clothing and chemical resistant gloves, but says, “Although there is the potential for homeowner exposure to TCVP, it is highly unlikely that homeowners would experience significant exposure resulting from such uses.”

Interesting, while citing ‘highly unlikely’ risk to homeowners, the agency does though acknowledge the potential for “increased cancer risks to TCVP handlers wearing full protective clothing.”

Safety recommendations include washing hands before eating and drinking, and “using the toilet.” If the pesticide gets inside your clothing, the EPA suggests removing your clothing immediately if pesticides get inside, and “then wash thoroughly, and put on clean clothing.” Again, the irony is that these instructions are for professional use, but it is considered alright to be on pets that children play with.

In the NRDC’s efforts to create public awareness about propoxur and TCVP, the group has released reports including Poisons on Pets I and Poisons on Pets II, which highlight the threats posed by these pesticides on flea collars.

The NRDC said the Poisons on Pets II report showed that “high levels of pesticide residues can remain on a dog’s or cat’s fur for weeks after a flea collar is put on an animal.”

The group also said residue levels detected in the Poisons on Pets II report “were found to be high enough to pose a risk to the neurological system of children at levels that greatly exceed the EPA’s acceptable levels.”

Again, the NRDC said to date no final decision has been made on its petitions, although “the EPA has indicated that they expect to issue a revised exposure assessment soon.”

In the meantime, to help consumers make more informed decisions about the pet flea products they purchase, the NRDC has created the GreenPaws Flea and Tick Products Directory, which sorts the products according to potential toxicity.

If you are looking to go the chemical-free route to control flea and tick infestations, the NRDC makes the following recommendations:

*Combing – Regular combing of a pet can help reduce fleas and also help monitor the success of a flea control program. Fleas caught in the comb should be drowned in soapy water.

*Bathing – Soapy baths are a great way to control fleas, since any soap will get rid of them. Fleas tend to accumulate in bedding, so wash your pet’s bedding in hot water once a week, taking care not to spread any flea eggs and larvae that may be contained in it.

*Vacuuming – Vacuuming picks up fleas and eggs from carpets, floors, crevices, and furniture. Immediately after vacuuming, throw vacuum bags away to prevent fleas from escaping and reinfesting your home. Severe infestations may require professional carpet cleaning with steam.

*Maintaining Outdoor Areas – Keeping grass and shrubbery clipped short in areas where your pet spends time will increase dryness and sunlight, which will help reduce a flea problem. Nematodes, available at garden supply stores, can be used as a nonchemical, biological aid to help control fleas in these areas.

If you’re considering using herbal or natural products, the NRDC has several warnings and suggestions. The group says, “Not all essential oils used to treat pet pests are safe for animals or people.

“Herbal or natural products containing citrus, cinnamon, clove, d-limonene, geranium, tea tree, lavender, linalool, bay, eucalyptus, and rue oils should be used sparingly because they can cause allergic reactions in people—and severe reactions in cats and dogs.”

The NRDC also has advises to, “Avoid the use of any flea or tick product containing pennyroyal oil. It can cause seizures, coma, and even death in animals. Herbal or natural products that contain cedarwood, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, and thyme are probably safer. “

If you decided to go the chemical approach, the NRDC suggests that you can find lower risk products by checking the labels to make sure that they don’t contain propoxur or TCVP or any other high risk chemicals. The safest options are pill-based flea treatments. In addition, the groups says make sure the product is suitable for your pet and follow the instructions carefully.

Reader comments and input are always welcomed!