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VOL. 17 • NO. 4
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THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020
EPA orders PureLine to stop selling certain pesticides Claims product labels mislead public regarding safety, effectiveness
According to a press release received on Thursday, June 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a “Stop Sale” order to Bensenville-based PureLine Treatment Systems, LLC, to immediately halt the sale or distribution of certain pesticide products. The release said the company “has made claims about these pesticides that are not allowed under the products’ registrations and could mislead the public regarding the products’ safety and effectiveness against the virus that causes COVID-19.” “EPA is committed to ensuring
that consumers have access to safe and effective disinfectant products,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Kurt Thiede. “By taking this action, EPA emphasizes how critical it is for companies to comply with federal pesticide laws designed to protect human health.” The order requires the company to stop selling or distributing pesticides, which EPA has determined to be misbranded, until those false or misleading claims regarding their effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 are removed from their labels and sales materials.
Three of the products identified in the order are identified on PureLine’s website as “PureVista,” “Pure 3000” and “Purecide E/Technical Sodium Chlorite.” In addition, the “Stop Sale” order alleges that Pureline has made false or misleading claims, suggesting that its products can be used to “sterilize” a facility, when that has not be confirmed by the EPA. Pureline’s website also states that the products are “safe” and “not poisonous,” despite the fact that the labeling required by federal law includes cautionary language such as
“poison,” “harmful if swallowed, absorbed through the skin, or inhaled,” or “causes irreversible eye damage and skin burns.” The “Stop Sale” order also alleges that PureLine is offering for sale and distribution a product identified as ‘N95 Mask Decon System,’ for use in conjunction with an EPA-registered product called “Pure Vista.” PureLine claims it can be used to sterilize N95 masks, and that such a process has been approved by the EPA, among other federal agencies. In fact, “Pure Vista” is NOT registered for use as a sterilant or to steril-
ize N95 masks. Under FIFRA, products that claim to kill, destroy, prevent, or repel bacteria or viruses, etc., are considered pesticides and must go through EPA’s registration process. Public health claims can only be made for products that have been properly tested and are registered with EPA. Products not registered by EPA may be harmful to human health, cause adverse health effects, and may not be effective against the spread of viruses or other pathogens. For additional information, visit epa.gov/pesticides/.
Fenton superintendent weighs in on George Floyd incident James Ongtengco, superintendent of District 100 Fenton High School, released the following statement last week regarding the incident which took the life of George Floyd, the African American man who died in custody of the Minneapolis Police Department. “For the last several days, the topic during our family meals has been about racism, institutional racism, and the horrific death of Mr. George Floyd from Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is disheartening and painful to explain to my kids how real and ubiquitous racism is in America. There are so many people hurting right now, and my heart and prayers are with them. This sadness and the events that led to these emotions should not exist in our country. Everyone deserves respect and human rights. “Fenton is committed to equity and social justice. We take great pride in serving all of our families of many races, ethnicities, religions,
socio-economic statuses, physical capabilities, and languages. We live equity and social justice inside and outside of our classrooms and offices on a daily basis. Let’s continue to love and care for each other, our students, our parents, and love the folks who might disagree with us. Let’s continue to live the Bison Way and raise the next generation that will end institutional racism and oppression. “As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.’ “Fenton stands with justice, good character, kindness, and equity. Our mission is Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships … through our commitment and collective efforts in kindness and good character I am confident that we will create a more just, caring and loving society.”
Inside:
Police Reports...........3 Sports �������������������� 14 Viewpoint.................7 Classifieds..............13
C. J. ELONICH PHOTO Bensenville Independent
Protest rally on York Street and North Avenue remains peaceful
Pictured here is a crowd of about 200 people who gathered near York Street and North Avenue in Elmhurst for a peaceful protest on Tuesday, June 2. The City of Elmhurst prepared most of the day on Tuesday for the rally held in support and memory of George Floyd, the African American man who died while in the custody of the Minneapolis police department recently.
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