Dirty Laundry! Pesticide Clothing Poses Risk to Health and Environment
- av: The nc conserva Network
- mottagare: Dennis Madsen, CEO, REI; Perk Perkins, President, Orvis; Chris McCormick, CEO, LL Bean Inc.
There may be more than you bargained for in your backpack
Buzz Off Insect Repellent clothing is a new line of outdoor apparel treated with the pesticide permethrin to ward off mosquitoes. The clothing, which is made by Greensboro, NC-based Buzz Off Insect Shield LLC, is being sold in leading outdoor lifestyle retailers, including REI, LL Bean and Orvis, without adequate labels warning consumers of the potential health and environmental risks posed by the pesticide.
The permethrin insecticide found in Buzz Off clothing which is marketed to outdoor enthusiasts such as recreational fisherman, campers and hikers is highly toxic to fish and other marine life, and present risks to human health, especially when used in conjunction with DEET, another popular bug repellant. Permethrin is classified as a "possible" human carcinogen by the EPA; and its also suspected of disrupting the human endocrine system.
Despite the risks, Buzz Off apparel is not adequately labeled to warn consumers of these hazards. If the EPA wont regulate, consumers will have to exercise their own muscle!
Urge REI, LL Bean and Orvis to stop selling Buzz Off insect-repellent clothing until there are adequate warning labels explaining the risks to human health and to the environment.
Dear [retailer],
I am writing today to express my concern over a product being sold in your stores - Buzz Off Insect Repellent clothing, which is treated with the synthetic pesticide permethrin. I am concerned that the labels on Buzz Off clothing do not adequately caution consumers about the dangers of permethrin or warn adequately against improper uses. Please don't sell Buzz Off clothes until there are stronger warning labels.
Permethrin is a synthetic pesticide that is highly toxic to marine life, even in small doses. Many people who buy Buzz Off clothes from your store will use it while camping or fishing, where clothes may be worn or washed in streams. Although the label says that the clothes should not be disposed of in water, it does not warn against wearing or washing the clothes in water. I am concerned that people wearing Buzz Off clothing may contribute to pollution in rivers and streams, further threatening marine ecosystems already threatened by development, runoff and other factors.
Permethrin may also pose health risks to humans, with children more vulnerable than adults to long-term effects. Health risks may be exacerbated by combined exposure to permethrin and the popular insect repellent DEET. Notably, the EPA did not consider new data on the risks of exposure to this combination when it registered permethrin for use in clothes.
One of the reasons I shop at your store is its promotion of healthy outdoor living and environmental awareness. I urge your store to stop selling Buzz Off clothing until the labels adequately warn against the health hazards to consumers and the environment, and how to prevent those risks.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Sincerely,
[your name]
