EPA ACTS TO REMOVE 72 “INERT” INGREDIENTS FROM PESTICIDE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT INERT
“Inert” implies inactive. These chemicals are not in fact inert, but can cause significant harm to people, animals, and ecosystems. Active ingredients in a pesticide are tested for specific biological activity-they cause a desired effect at a specific dose. They also have undesirable side effects, but presumably the pros out way the cons. The “inert” ingredients are mixed with the listed, active, chemical so that it can be used in a reasonable dose in the desired manner. Most of us presume that they are inconsequential, but in fact they are usually the bulk of the material we are applying. The 72 chemicals being removed included volatile organic chemicals like Formaldehyde and Vinyl toluene. Benzoyl peroxide and potassium bromate were included, too. Check out the list, it is eye opening. It is good to see the EPA beginning to tackle this problem, but we have a long way to go. There are many more. Lets hope the EPA can remove these chemicals. In our yards we almost never need the synthetic pesticides, weedkillers, or fertilizers, that are manufactured with these chemicals. If we don’t use them we don’t have to worry about exposure to the active or “inert” ingredients in our yards or in our drinking water.
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