For Release: Friday, September 11, 2009
DEC Nabs Man Illegally Selling Pesticides on NYC Street
Agency Warns Public to Avoid Buying Illegal, Unlabeled or Restricted Use Chemicals
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently carried out a sting operation into black market street sales of pesticides, resulting in charges against a Bronx resident for selling large amounts of two potentially very harmful products, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today.
The investigation began with a tip provided to DEC's Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation unit. On Sept. 8, a DEC investigator working undercover purchased eight packages of the illegal rodenticide "Tres Pasitos" for $20 on a Washington Heights street corner from a dealer. After confirming the purchase, other DEC officers approached the subject, Domingo Ventura-Veras, and seized a bag under his chair, which contained 326 glassine packages of Tres Pasitos, five packages of the insecticide Tempo Ultra WSP (50g) and 15 smaller packages of Tempo Ultra WSP. Ventura-Veras was charged with the sale of unregistered pesticide - a misdemeanor.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Tres Pasitos is imported illegally from Mexico and other Latin American countries. Its name means "three little steps," reportedly from the claim that, after eating it, this is all mice can muster before dying. The active ingredient is a chemical called aldicarb- a very toxic chemical that should never be used in a home. Children are especially vulnerable to poisoning by aldicarb when it is sprinkled around the home to control roaches, mice and rats. Exposure to high amounts of aldicarb can cause weakness, blurred vision, headache, nausea, tearing, sweating, and tremors in people. Very high doses can kill people, because it can paralyze the respiratory system. Tempo Ultra WSP is labeled for use in New York by certified pesticide applicators - not the general public - to control a broad spectrum of insects.
DEC's investigation into the illegal sales of pesticides is ongoing.
The EPA warns that illegal pesticides are often much more toxic than New York State and EPA registered pesticides, which are approved after strict testing for use in homes and other applications. They often come in familiar shapes and packaging or may be registered for use by professionally trained applicators and not for use by the general public. Many illegal pesticides are very toxic and potentially contain unknown ingredients, or the ingredients may vary from time to time. Without properly certified labels, clear directions and safety warnings may be omitted. Violators of pesticide laws can face fines of up to $5,000 for each violation and/or up to one year in jail.
Commissioner Grannis said: "Illegal pesticides are a serious concern, posing a health and safety risk to individuals, families, pets and other animals. Even if they are cheaper and claim to be more effective, they may be unregulated, unproven, and very dangerous and should never be used."
For more information on how to spot and avoid illegal pesticides, go to http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/health/illegalproducts/ on the EPA website. For other information about preventing and controlling pests, go to the DEC website and http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/pests/reduce.htm on the state Department of Health website.
