Ingredients labelled as “inactive” in pesticide formulas potentially poison the environment, crops and animals, but the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rebuffed calls to examine their toxicity and risks.
Inactive ingredients are usually added as surfactants or penetrating agents that help disperse the active ingredients or make them more absorbable. About 4,000 inert ingredients are approved for use by the EPA, along with 1,000 active ingredients, and the industry is not required to disclose its formulas because they are considered trade secrets publicly. Read more
News Credit: The Guardian
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