The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it is fining 15 businesses throughout California, Hawaii, Nevada and Guam a collective $202,614 for selling unregistered insecticides that pose health risks to children. The EPA penalized the companies for selling illegal naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene mothballs, "insecticidal chalk" and other products, some of which can poison children who may mistake them for toys or food. Selling unregistered products such as these is a violation of the Federal Insecticide and Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

"Businesses and consumers alike should be aware that these products can poison children," said Laura Yoshii, acting regional administrator for the EPA's Pacific Southwest Office in San Francisco. "There are plenty of legal, effective and properly labeled insecticides on the market that people can choose from instead of buying these dangerous products."

The mothballs, often containing paradichlorobenzene and naphthalene, can be easily mistaken for candy, or simply tempting for young children to touch and play with. In fact, the colored naphthalene balls resemble gumballs. Recent studies have indicated that both paradichlorobenzene and naphthalene may be linked to illnesses, including cancer.

Insecticidal chalk poses a particular risk for children because it is indistinguishable from common blackboard chalk, and lacks child-proof packaging. Samples analyzed in the past have been found to contain deltamethrin or cypermethrin, moderately toxic synthetic pyrethroids. Between 1992 and 1995, Poison Control Centers nationwide received 668 reports of incidences involving insecticide chalk.

Properly registered products have labels that list their ingredients, their human, environmental, physical and chemical hazards, and information on their use, storage and disposal. Comparisons with similar, registered products showed that many of these illegal products lacked key information on their labels. Officials from the EPA, California, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam discovered the illegal sales during routine inspections. The products are largely found in markets frequented by Asians, presenting a disproportionate risk to those individuals.

Of the 15 entities being fined today, eight reached a settlement with the EPA. The EPA will continue settlement negotiations with the other seven.