Breast Cancer Fund

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Inert, But Not Safe

Label Inert Ingredients"Inert" ingredients sound so harmless. But current law allows inert ingredients linked to cancer—including formaldehyde, BPA, toluene and benzene—to be unlabeled on household pesticides. The active ingredients that kill pests are bad enough without having to wonder if the undisclosed "inactive" ingredients might harm you, too.

What Now?

In September 2009, the EPA initiated a process to decide whether to change the laws related to the labeling of inert ingredients in household pesticides.

We know that most chemicals haven’t been tested for their long-term effects on health and the environment, so we’re advocating for disclosure of all ingredients. Consumers have a right to know what they’re spraying in their homes and gardens. (May we suggest another alternative, too: non-toxic pest remedies.)

Use the form below to ask the EPA for full disclosure of pesticide ingredients. Feel free to add your own thoughts to the letter before sending.


  • Administrator Administrator Lisa Jackson


Dear [Decision Maker],

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]


*Required fields