Many Americans believe that commercially available pesticides, such as those found in pet products, are tightly regulated by the government. In fact, they are not. Many of the products sold in grocery, drug and pet supply stores, even when applied as instructed on the box, can cause serious health consequences to pets and humans. Just because these products are on store shelves does not mean they are safe.

In 2000, the Natural Resources Defense Council released a groundbreaking report detailing the potential health hazards to humans and pets from dangerous chemicals in flea collars and other flea and tick control products. NRDC was the first to put the individual risk assessments for pesticides from pet products side by side, highlighting the overall risks to children. NRDC found that pet products then on the market could expose adults and children to toxic pesticides at concentrations that exceed the safe levels established by the EPA by 50,000 percent. The report recommended that the EPA ban all products using organophosphates to protect children and pets from short- and long-term health effects associated with these pesticides.

At the time of the report's release, flea control products on the market included seven specific organophosphate insecticides. Since the report's release, six of these organophosphates have been banned and removed from the pet market: chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, diazinon and malathion. Only one -- tetrachlorvinphos -- is still found in stores.

NRDC continues to pressure the EPA to ban the last remaining organophosphate insecticide and is calling for the EPA to also ban pet products that contain carbamates -- a class of insecticides closely related to organophosphates. Both organophosphates and carbamates work by interfering with the transmission of nerve signals in the brains and nervous systems of insects, pets and humans alike. In overdoses, organophosphates and carbamates can kill people and pets. But even with normal use of flea-control products, pets and children may be in danger.

Based on the very limited data available, it appears that hundreds and probably thousands of pets have been injured or killed through exposure to pet products containing pesticides. As with small children, pets cannot report when they're being poisoned at low doses.

Until the EPA bans the last of these toxic chemicals, consumers should avoid products that list tetrachlorvinphos, carbaryl and propoxur as active ingredients. Let us know if you or someone you love (whether furry or not) has had a toxic reaction to a pet product, email us at greenpaws@nrdc.org with your story.

Download the full report, Poisons on Pets
Learn more about which products to avoid with the product guide.