@antigone said in FDA alert on tick/flea product:
I subscribe to the American Veterinarians list and they are currently discussing the use of products such as Frontline and other flea and tick repellents. They are saying Frontline is not safe as lots os Dogs and Cats have died from it. Diatomaceous Earth (Human Grade) is made from ground up Crustaceans and it causes Spikes on the Coat of the Animal so when a Flea or Tick lands on your Pet it is shredded to death and falls off dead.
Frontline has been around for at least 20 years. If you are on a "list" where folks chat, even non-vet folk like you, I don't much care what they chat about.
On their official pages, they do not say it is "not safe". Saying that there have been some deaths, generally from misuse, among many millions of applications isn't saying it is unsafe. People die from salt; children and adults have died from drinking too much water. Some babies are allergic to breast milk. Nothing on earth is 100 percent safe. The danger of fleas and tick diseases compared to the VERY high safety of Frontline should be considered. You don't like it? Don't use it. But please refrain from spreading garbage to mislead others.
The EPA has determined fipronil to be safe for use on dogs and cats, with no harm to humans who handle these animals. Poisoning cases from accidental use or misuse of fipronil may occur in animals....Most of the time poisoning cases of fipronil occur in dogs and cats due to accidental ingestion or licking the fipronil-containing product. Fipronil elicits neurotoxicity in mammals by inhibition of GABAA-gated chloride channels, producing hyperexcitability of the central nervous system. Overdosage due to accidental ingestion often leads to serious toxicosis. There is no specific antidote for the toxicity of fipronil. The manufacturer warns that the product may be harmful to debilitated, aged, pregnant or nursing animals and also states that fipronil must not be used on kittens less than 12 weeks of age and on puppies less than 10 weeks old.<<
AMVA says they rely on EPA reports, btw. EPA does not verify reports, they only collect them. The EPA knows, for example, that there were 270,000,000 (yeah 270 million) doses of spot on flea/tick products sold in 2007-2008, and that 43,000 reports of adverse reactions. That is 0.16 percent of the doses sold had an adverse effect reported. Even if miraculously they all really WERE related to the treatment, that's incredibly safe. Considering they say overdose and misuse main issue, for you to say they say it isn't safe is a gross misstatement of reality.
AMVA quote: EPA-registered products are generally very safe products to use, especially when they are used according to the manufacturer's label recommendations and when used by owners in consultation with their veterinarian. It is very important that pet owners consult with their veterinarian to determine which product may be the best choice based on the pet's health, age, and lifestyle.
On human grade Diatomateous earth, wrong again. It doesn't shed them to death, for crying out loud. It absorbs the freaking waxy/oily coat and the insect dies.
Food Grade and Non-Food Grade Varieties
Silica exists in two main forms, crystalline and amorphous (non-crystalline).
The sharp crystalline form looks like glass under a microscope. It has properties that make it desirable for numerous industrial applications.
The two main types of diatomaceous earth vary in their concentrations of crystalline silica:
Food Grade: This type contains 0.5–2% crystalline silica and is used as an insecticide as well as an anti-caking agent in the agricultural and food industries. It is approved for use by the EPA, USDA and FDA (3, 4).
Filter Grade: Also known as non-food grade, this type is said to contain upwards of 60% crystalline silica. It is toxic to mammals but has many industrial applications, including water filtration and the production of dynamite.
BOTTOM LINE:
Food grade diatomaceous earth is low in crystalline silica and considered safe for humans. The non-food grade type is high in crystalline silica and is toxic.
Diatomaceous Earth as an Insecticide
Food grade diatomaceous earth is often used as an insecticide.
When it comes in contact with an insect, the silica removes the waxy outer coating from the insect's exoskeleton.<<
While the DE may help cut the shell, it doesn't cut the pest up, it simply helps the drying agent go suck up all the moisture.
Inhaling it, like any dust particle, can be bad for your lungs, so don't do that.
