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EPA FINES 15 WESTERN BUSINESSES $200,000 FOR ILLEGAL INSECTICIDE SALES

Release Date: 9/26/2001
Contact Information: Leo Kay, Press Office, 415/744-2201

     Penalties part of agency initiative to crack down on unregistered household products

     SAN FRANCISCO   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.

     For more information on illegal insecticides, go to: https://www.epa.gov/region09/features/pests/
                               
     The following is a list of businesses being fined. (An asterisk * denotes cases that are still in negotiations   a proposed penalty is listed):

                                                                      # of Products                      Total Penalty

CALIFORNIA:

L & G Household and Healthcare America, Inc.
13017 East, 166th Street,
Cerritos                 1 anti-bacterial odor eliminator $3,960

*Vien Dong, Inc.  
d/b/a Super Food Warehouse
2650 N. Rosemead Blvd
South El Monte           6 moth repellents                       $29,700

*88 Asian Market (aka "88 Oriental Market")
10606 Camino Ruiz
San Diego           1 moth repellent, 1 insecticidal chalk            $ 9,900

*Golden Globe Foods Center, Inc.
573 Monterey Pass Road
Monterey Park            5 moth repellents                       $24,750

*Duc Heung Group, Inc.
d/b/a JB International
137 South 8th Ave. #K
City of Industry              5 moth repellents                       $24,750

Price Power
3130 Leonis Blvd
Vernon                   1 moth repellent                        $ 3,960

Big N Save
1002 W. Gardena Blvd.
 Gardena             1 moth repellent                        $2,376
                             

Hannam Chain U.S.A., Inc.
d/b/a Super 1 Mart
5301 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park               7 moth repellents, 1 disinfectant
                    2 food related product, 1 anti-bacterial odor eliminator
      1 anti-bacteria laundry detergent            $43,164

Bega Trading Company
3850 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles              1 moth repellent                        $3,000

NEVADA:

International Thai Market
3297 Las Vegas Blvd. N.
Las Vegas           1 insecticidal chalk                         $3,000

*Western Supermarket
3899 Spring Mountain Rd.
Las Vegas           1 moth repellent                        $ 3,960  

The International Supermarket, Inc.
95 E. Grove Street
Reno                1 moth repellent                        $ 3,168

HAWAII & GUAM:

*Marukai Corporation
2310 Kamehameha Hwy
Honolulu            7 moth repellents                       $34,650

*Hing Mau, Inc.
1040 Maunakea St.
Honolulu            2 moth repellents                       $ 9,900

Han Sun Reep
P.O. Box 24725
Barrigada, Guam          1 moth repellent                        $ 2,376