Illegal Pesticides

Illegal pesticides pose an increasing risk for consumers purchasing pest-control products. Often much more toxic than pesticides registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), illegal pesticides can have familiar shapes and packaging, or come in forms that appeal to children. Illegal pesticides are sold on the street, at flea markets and in some urban grocery and hardware stores. All of them should be avoided.

To avoid the risk of purchasing an illegal product, always buy pesticides from established retail stores. Avoid any pesticide that is not in its original, labeled container. Never use pesticides indoors that are labeled for outdoor use. And as with all household chemicals, be sure to read the label before purchasing or using a pesticide product.

Look for the “EPA Reg #” on the label to verify that legality. If an illegal pesticide is suspected, it should not be used. Dispose of illegal pesticides properly by contacting the local government agency responsible for waste management.

Illegal Pesticide Chalk

This product goes under a variety of names: Miraculous Chalk, Chinese Chalk and Pretty Baby Chalk. Imported illegally from China, the chalk is advertised as effective against roaches, ants and other household pets when spread in a line along a floor or baseboard. Package labels are often in English and Chinese and may state “harmless to human beings and animals” or “safe to use.” Both these statements are untrue and dangerous. Because these products can be mistaken for ordinary blackboard chalk, children often take them in hand, write with them and put them in their mouths. Overexposure can cause serious health effects, including vomiting, stomach pains, convulsions, tremors, coma and death due to respiratory failure. Serious allergic reactions are also possible. There are also high levels of lead and other hazardous metals in the products’ colorful packaging, posing a danger to children who handle the boxes or place them in their mouths.

Illegal Mothballs

Bright and colorful, illegal mothballs tempt children to touch and play with them and can be easily mistaken for candy. These illegal repellants contain naphthalene, which has been linked to illnesses including nasal cancer.

Polvo de avión

Polvo de avión, also known as airplane powder or airplane dust, is a yellow, odorless powder. Vendors in Mexico purchase large batches of the toxic chemical and sell it in unmarked bags, advertised as being effective against cockroaches. Though Mexican officials have attempted to cease its trade, the chemical is still widespread in Texas and southern New Mexico. The substance is actually methyl-parathion, categorized as a severely hazardous pesticide banned for residential use in the U.S. and allowed only for certain agricultural uses. Exposure to the pesticide can cause symptoms including headaches, dizziness, muscle twitching, vomiting, diarrhea and general weakness. Long-term effects, caused by damage to the brain and spinal cord, include blurred vision, muscle weakness, mental confusion, short-term memory loss and depression.

Tres Pasitos

This pesticide is imported illegally from Mexico, the Dominican Republic and other Latin American countries. Translated in English as “three little steps,” the product’s name refers to its quick and deadly effect on mice. The active ingredient is aldicarb, an extremely toxic chemical and should never be used in homes. Children are especially vulnerable to poisoning by aldicarb when it is sprinkled around to control roaches, mice and rats. Exposure to high amounts of aldicarb can cause weakness, blurred vision, headache, nausea, tearing, sweating and tremors. High doses are lethal if they paralyze the respiratory system.

Tempo

Tempo is a trademarked pesticide that can be used legally by licensed exterminators. However, due to its toxicity, it can only be sold to certified pesticide applicators. Tempo sold on the street and in stores violates state and federal restrictions and may contain 200 to 400 times the recommended dosage. Individual packets do not bear the full required labeling and typically sell for $15-$20 per 1.76 ounce individual packet. Use of Tempo is particularly common in Hispanic neighborhoods. Tempo contains cyfluthrin, a potent insecticide that can be lethal to household pets and humans.