Tell the Truth About Pesticides

What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

The Consumer Labeling initiative

Voice your concerns

Sample Letter

What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

Many people purchase and use pesticides assuming that, since they are legal, pesticides must be "safe." Unfortunately, there is an alarming lack of research on how pesticides affect human health, and the toxicity information that does exist is not adequately communicated to consumers. Consider these facts:

• Studies suggest that pesticide exposure is linked to a number of health problems including breast cancer, childhood sarcoma and birth defects.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration of a pesticide does not mean that a pesticide is "safe."
• Testing by the EPA is just beginning to look at long-term and short-term health effects.
• Pesticides can be put on the market without complete health testing.
• Pesticide labels list "inert" ingredients but this does not mean that these ingredients or chemicals are inactive. An EPA study of 1,200 inert ingredients found that 122 could cause cancer, birth defects, neurological disorders or other health problems. Many inert chemicals remain untested.
• Warnings on products - signal words such as "caution" and "danger" - are too general to provide any meaningful description of health effects.

The Consumer Labeling Initiative

The EPA is in the process of developing recommendations for pesticide labeling through a project called the Consumer Labeling Initiative. EPA administrator Carol Browner has convened a task force made up of federal, state and tribal agencies and organizations. It is Vital that consumers make clear what they want to know about pesticides on the market.

The task force will be making recommendations this fall. Now is the time for you to make your voice heard - don't miss this oppurtunity to get the information you need from manufacturers!

Voice your concerns about pesticides

Please take a moment to write Carol Browner a postcard urging the EPA to require meaningful information on pesticide labels. We have targeted several key issues that are serious information gaps for consumers. Sample language is provided below, but personalized postcards have the most impact. Feel free to use your own words and include personal experience.

Sample language:

"I believe consumers have a right to know about possible health threats caused by pesticides. The short-term and long-term health effects of all chemicals in a pesticide should be clearly listed on the product's label. It is also important for me to know whether health testing of the product has been completed. When I use a pesticide I need to know how it may impact the health of my family, pets and neighbors! Please give me access to that information."

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