Secret ingredients.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Secret ingredients.
Authors: Epstein, David J.
Source: Scientific American. Aug2003, Vol. 289 Issue 2, p22-23. 2p. 1 Color Photograph.
Subjects: Insecticides, Mosquitoes, Environmental policy, Environmental protection, Poisons, Industries, Labels, Pesticides, United States. Environmental Protection Agency
Geographic Terms: United States
Abstract: Spraying for mosquitoes has increasingly become a summer routine in many areas, thanks to the West Nile virus. Most" inert" ingredients, which often constitute up to 99 percent of the product contents, are not listed. Yet they can be biochemically active--for example, an unlisted ingredient in the mosquito pesticide Dibrom is naphthalene, which might cause cancer and developmental problems in exposed children.According to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, pesticide ingredients qualify as inert when their function in a product is something other than killing the target pest. INSETS: AN END TO A BUG'S LIFE;LABELS WITH LESS.
Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:Spraying for mosquitoes has increasingly become a summer routine in many areas, thanks to the West Nile virus. Most" inert" ingredients, which often constitute up to 99 percent of the product contents, are not listed. Yet they can be biochemically active--for example, an unlisted ingredient in the mosquito pesticide Dibrom is naphthalene, which might cause cancer and developmental problems in exposed children.According to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, pesticide ingredients qualify as inert when their function in a product is something other than killing the target pest. INSETS: AN END TO A BUG'S LIFE;LABELS WITH LESS.
ISSN:00368733
DOI:10.1038/scientificamerican0803-22