Flea & tick control products raise health concerns
Certain products used to control fleas and ticks are raising hairs. In April 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an advisory after an increase in the number of reported health incidents in pets treated with some flea and tick control products.
Following the EPA advisory, in an unrelated effort, the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a lawsuit in California against major pet product retailers and manufacturers for allegedly failing to use warning labels on flea and tick control products that contain a chemical linked to cancer.
EPA URGES PRECAUTION WHEN USING SPOT-ON FLEA & TICK PRODUCTS
The EPA is advising consumers who use specific types of flea and tick control products on their pets to take precautions. The advisory applies to nearly 70 “spot-on” products that contain registered-pesticides; spot-on products generally come in tubes or vials and are directly applied to specific areas of the pet’s body to control fleas and ticks, as opposed to other control products, such as flea collars. In 2008, about 1,300 major or fatal pet incidents linked to spot-on products were recorded in the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs database. Adverse reactions ranged from skin irritation to seizures, and in some cases death.
The EPA’s advice to consumers who use spot-on flea and tick products includes carefully following label instructions and closely monitoring pets for any signs of adverse reactions after use, particularly when using a product for the first time. The agency also suggests consulting a veterinarian about the responsible and effective use of flea and tick products.
While other flea and tick products, such as sprays, collars, and shampoos have also reportedly caused health effects in pets, the EPA says most incidents have been associated with spot-on products. At the same time, the agency says many flea and tick products are used without harmful effects and notes their importance as part of effective flea and tick control.
Meanwhile, Health Canada, a Canadian government agency, has noticed similar problems with spot-on products. Both the EPA and Health Canada are intensifying their evaluation of those products and working with spot-on product manufacturers to address the issue, including whether further restrictions are necessary.
LAWSUIT PINPOINTS CHEMICAL IN FLEA & TICK PRODUCTS
On the heels of the EPA advisory, NRDC filed a lawsuit in California against major pet product retailers and manufacturers that sell flea and tick control products. The suit alleges the companies, including PetSmart, PETCO, and PetStore.com, are illegally selling flea and tick collars (and potentially other products) with propoxur, a chemical on California’s Proposition 65 list because it’s known to the state of California to cause cancer, without the proper warning labels required by the state.
NRDC is also petitioning the EPA to ban all “pet uses” of propoxur and another chemical, tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP), which is considered to be a likely carcinogen by the EPA.
Get the full list of spot-on products under evaluation and other advice from the EPA on taking care of fleas and ticks. The NRDC has also published a pocket guide to flea and tick treatments, which provides the group’s assessment of chemicals used in pet pest control products.
RELATED LINKS:
What is Lyme disease?
FDA: Safe Use of Flea and Tick Products in Pets
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