 been tested extensively and warns that it is scientifically unsound to test just one component of a
mixture and assume that the entire combination in the formulation will respond in the same way.
Or, to put it another way, just because one chemical is considered safe (below the acceptable daily intake levels), it does not mean the rest of the cocktail is safe
. Sometimes, simply the addition of water, which often contains pesticides, can change the dynamics enough to create an entirely new chemical more toxic
than the original chemical!
Most of the insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides used in agriculture as well as adhesives, paints, finishes, and sealers used in building materials are
complex formulations of both active and inert ingredients. The active ingredient is the primary chemical that acts as the
pesticide or adhesive, while the other, so called “inert” ingredients, help to make it work effectively. Inert chemicals according to the USPCP, are often toxic, however, they are not tested for their potential to cause health problems.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pesticides approved for use contain nearly 900 active ingredients, many of which are toxic. Many of
solvents, fillers, and other chemicals listed as inert ingredients on pesticide labels are also toxic, but they are not required to be tested for their
potential to cause chronic diseases such as cancer
. Clearly, single chemical testing of active ingredients is not enough and can be misleading.
LD50 testing for acute toxicity is too short term
Another weakness in the standards of testing of chemicals is for “acute toxicity” or the amount that is fatal to animals or humans. The
most referenced value is LD50. LD stands for Lethal Dose and 50 means the amount required to kill 50% of the test animals. The lower the number, (e.g. 100mg) the more
toxic it is, because it takes less to kill the animal. LD50 testing is widely used as the main reference when judging a substance’s acute toxicity, or the
adverse effects resulting from either a single exposure or multiple exposures in a short span of time.
Adverse effects must occur within two weeks of the test to be considered acute toxicity. However, according to the USPCP, this measurement does not
show the long-term toxic effects of a single chemical or compound
Asbestos is a prime example of how measuring LD50 can be misleading in regards to a chemical’s toxicity. Asbestos does not have an LD50 because it is not
acutely toxic. It is not a poison in the traditional sense. It is “technically possible” to eat asbestos and not be poisoned. However, a small amount of
asbestos ingested into the lungs can result in asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma all of which are fatal diseases.
Although there were studies as early as the 1920’s and 30’s linking asbestos to health problems, it was considered safe under the LD50 criteria. The
asbestos industry and government regulators denied any dangers for decades. Such irresponsible neglect and misrepresentation resulted in thousands of
unnecessary and cruel deaths worldwide with more to come, due to its 20-50 year latency for asbestos-related diseases.
Testing for low or no VOCs excludes exempt VOCs
A similar case can be argued for the study of low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as solvents and formaldehyde in paint and adhesives. Low levels or zero VOCs does not make a product safe, because many products contain numerous toxic chemicals that have been de-regulated.
As a result of OSHA requirements, many manufacturers have reduced or eliminated the amount of VOCs in their ingredients. While this has helped reduce the
amount of smog and thereby improved the ozone layer of our atmosphere, manufacturers often substitute exempt VOC chemicals such as acetone or ammonia, both of which are hazardous to humans, to take their place. They are exempt simply because they do not contribute to
the production of smog.
Hundreds of exempt VOCs are used throughout the industry and continue to cause complaints of headache, irritability, nausea and other 