EPA warns against online pesticide

WASHINGTON, March 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it has warned consumers of risks associated with a banned pesticide in an ant-control product purchased online.

The EPA says the warning went to more then 2,800 purchasers of Fast Ant Bait from fastpescontrol.com that contained mirex, a pesticide banned in 1978 because it can cause liver, skin, reproductive and nerve damage, an agency release said Monday.

The EPA said it became aware of the product after the Washington state Department of Health reported a woman became ill after using it in her home.

The EPA identified and warned three online companies -- 2Checkout.com Inc., CCNow Inc. and eBay Inc. -- to cease processing orders sent to fastpestcontrol.com for the product, which is produced in and mailed from China.

The three companies stopped immediately, the EPA said.

The companies also worked with the EPA to provide sales information so the agency could contact customers directly about the dangers posed by the pesticide and proper disposal methods.

"Illegal pesticides are often much more toxic than approved pesticides," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

"When EPA takes a pesticide off the market, it means that pesticide was not safe. Consumers should use only EPA-registered pesticides and always follow the label directions to ensure their safety."