Environmental Toxins: NRDC Sues EPA for Not Banning Toxic Pesticides

A lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) alleges that the Environmental Protection Agency did not product the public from exposure to two highly toxic pesticides: DDVP and carbaryl. Both chemicals are found in common household products and have been shown to cause severe neurological and developmental harm. The lawsuit says that the EPA missed a deadline to finalize a comprehensive reevaluation of carbaryl, did not adequately review DDVP, and did not respond to a petition that called for a ban on the chemicals.

NRDC Sues EPA for Failing to Ban Two Highly Toxic Pesticides

Dr. Jennifer Sass, an NRDC senior scientist, said that the "EPA is needlessly jeopardizing the health of our children. The agency should ban DDVP and carbaryl. There are safer alternatives on the market today and we urge consumers to avoid any products that use either of these two pesticides." DDVP is found in pest strips, aerosol sprays, and pet collars. It already has been banned in many countries, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden. Carbaryl is a highly toxic pesticide used in large-scale agriculture, lawn products, commercial garden centers, and pet products. It acts as a teratogen. The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.