Flea-Control Products Threaten Pets and Children.

The flea- and tick-control products that millions of Americans are using on their dogs and cats could pose a serious health threat not only to pets, but also to consumers and their children. That is the conclusion of a report issued by the Natural Resources Defense Council. These pest-control products can expose adults and children to toxic pesticides at concentrations that exceed--by 500 times--the safe levels established by U.S. EPA. The result: possible acute poisoning of pets and humans--and possible long-term problems for children.

"The simple truth is that these products, even when used as directed, are not safe and should not be on the market," said Dr. David Wallinga, M.D., co-author of the report. Risks include acute poisoning and longer-term problems like brain dysfunction or cancer."

Children, particularly toddlers, are at the greatest risk from these products, the report says. Studies suggest that these poisons, even at low levels, hamper a child's brain development, causing damage that might not be detectable for years. In addition, children are more likely than adults to be exposed. They come in close contact with pets and areas in homes where poisons from pet products accumulate. They often get pesticide particles on their hands and are likely to put their hands in their mouths.

The report found that the riskiest pet products contain a family of poisons called organophosphates (OPs). OP pesticides, which are derived from nerve gas, interfere with nerve signal transmission. Since the neurological process they attack is common to insects, humans, dogs, and cats, these pesticides can harm more than fleas and ticks. Over a four-year period ending in 1996, poison control centers have logged some 25,000 cases of children under six years of age who were exposed to OP pesticides. Hundreds of children have been hospitalized.

Flea and tick products containing OPs are made by Alco, Americare, Beaphar, Double Duty, Ford's, Freedom Five, Happy Jack, Hartz, Hopkins, Kill-Ko, Protection, Rabon, Riverdale, Sergeant, Unicorn, Vet-Kem, Victory and Zema. The seven Ops used in these products (and listed on product labels) are

* chlorpyrifos,

* diazinon,

* dichlorvos,

* malathion,

* naled,

* phosmet, and

* tetrachlorvinphos.

In addition to OPs, pet products often contain a second family of chemicals, called carbamates. The two most common carbamates in pet products are

* carbaryl and

* propoxur.

Because carbamates attack the same neurological process as OPs, the report says they are potentially harmful as well.

U.S. EPA only recently started investigating the safety of these pet products, especially for children. The NRDC report is the first to put the individual risk assessments for pesticides from pet products side by side and publicize the numbers associated with these products, highlighting the overall risks to children.

"It wasn't until 1996 that Congress required U.S. EPA to explore the effect these poisons in flea and tick products have on children--and only because they also are used on some foods," says Linda Greer, Ph.D., co-author of the report and director of NRDC's health and environment program. "U.S. EPA has been slow off the mark, and while it has made some progress in assessing the risks of individual poisons, it has never gotten around to calculating--as required by law--how the cumulative effect of the poisons harms children. Our research indicates that if and when U.S. EPA complies with the law, it will have to ban these products."

Earlier this year, U.S. EPA's initial calculations resulted in an agreement with Dow Agrichemical, the maker of chlorpyrifos (Dursban), to discontinue marketing the pesticide for all indoor uses. The agreement permitted stores to sell products already in stock, however, and as late as October, NRDC researchers were able to purchase a Dursban-based flea collar in a suburban Washington, D.C., drugstore.

The report urges pet owners to use a variety of safer approaches to controlling fleas and ticks. In many cases, pests can be controlled with simple, nonchemical measures, such as brushing pets regularly with a flea comb while inspecting for fleas, vacuuming carpets and furniture, and mowing frequently in areas where pets spend the most time outdoors. In other cases, these nonchemical measures may be combined with pet products that use insect growth regulators (IGRs). For cases of infestations, or when pets are allergic to flea bites and need immediate relief, newer products using fipronil (Frontline [R], Topspot [TM]) or imidacloprid (Advantage [R]) are safer and effective.

In addition, the report offered a series of recommendations for pet owners:

* Pet owners should avoid all OP-based products.

* In particular, pregnant women and families with children should cease using OP- or carbamate-based products immediately.

* Children should never apply flea shampoos, dusts, dips, or other products containing OPs or carbamates to their pets. U.S. EPA has overlooked and underestimated the particular risks to children when evaluating the safety of these products for home use.