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Insecticide Chalk
Illegal insecticide chalk
may be mistaken for blackboard chalk. |
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Illegal Insecticide Chalk, also known as "Miraculous Chalk"
or "Chinese Chalk." You may have seen the chalk in a neighborhood
store or sold on the street for about $1 a box. It is mostly imported
illegally from China and often bears a label in both English and Chinese.
Sometimes, like on the label we show here, the manufacturer makes claims
that the chalk is "harmless to human beings and animals" and
"safe to use." These claims are untrue and dangerous. Because
insecticide chalk looks just like regular chalk, children often take it
in their hands, write with it and put it in their mouths. The active ingredient
in Insecticide Chalk is a chemical called deltamethrin, which is one of
the most toxic pesticides of its kind. Insecticide chalk should be avoided
at all times.
EPA is particularly concerned about insecticide chalk because children
may mistake the insecticide for blackboard chalk. Overexposure to some
chemicals found in samples of insecticide chalk can provoke serious health
effects, including vomiting, stomach pains, convulsions, tremors, and
loss of consciousness. Serious allergic reactions are also possible. Several
children have been hospitalized after eating insecticide chalk.
Dispose of any supplies of insecticide chalk safely — either return the
product to the retailer where it was purchased, or contact a local hazardous
waste facility to arrange for disposal.
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