{"id":11,"date":"2007-01-23T08:55:41","date_gmt":"2007-01-23T13:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=11"},"modified":"2007-12-11T10:59:55","modified_gmt":"2007-12-11T14:59:55","slug":"scientists-call-for-%e2%80%9cinert%e2%80%9d-ingredient-disclosure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2007\/01\/scientists-call-for-%e2%80%9cinert%e2%80%9d-ingredient-disclosure\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists Call for \u201cInert” Ingredient Disclosure"},"content":{"rendered":"

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(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, January 23, 2007) Citing an extensive body of literature illustrating the concern over related human and environmental health effects, recent commentary in Environmental Health Perspectives<\/em> continues the call for improvements in pesticide regulation and \u201cinert” ingredient disclosure.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

The authors, Caroline Cox, Ph.D., research director at the Center for Environmental Health, and Michael Surgan, Ph.D., chief scientist in the Office of the Attorney General of New York State, highlight the regulatory weaknesses that allow the \u201cinert” ingredients in pesticide formulations to go largely untested. In response, they are calling for a pesticide registration process that requires full assessment of formulations and full disclosure on product labels.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\u201cInert” refers to ingredients in a pesticide formulation that have been added to the active ingredient to serve a variety of functions, such as acting as solvents, surfactants, or preservatives. However, the common misconception is that \u201cinert” ingredients are physically, chemically, or biologically inactive substances. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that \u201cmany consumers have a misleading impression of the term \u201d\u02dcinert ingredient,\u2019 believing it to mean water or other harmless ingredients.”<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

The commentary provides evidence that \u201cinerts” are often far from harmless and need to be examined closely for environmental, wildlife<\/a> and public health effects. Further, they present an urgent need for \u201cinert” regulation and disclosure due to the ubiquitous nature of pesticides in the environment, pointing to data that shows pesticides have been found in the United States in all streams, \u201cin >70% of common foods, and in over half of adults and children.”<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

The following are excerpts summarizing some of the major concerns identified regarding \u201cinerts:”<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n