US Super-Chain Wal-Mart Lists Two “Chemicals of Concern”

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Scott C. Lucas|7 November 2006

While the move mainly involves permethrin and propoxur in consumer pesticide products (as well as a the third product, nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NPE), an ingredient in soaps and detergents), the move has sparked concern in the US due to Wal-Mart’s clout as the largest single retail chain in the country.

The determination came from Wal-Mart’s independently created "risk determination" system for chemical products. This system carries out its own investigations into chemical products apart from existing science-based regulatory requirements.

The three chemicals are the first of some 17 currently present in consumer product formulations to be given such designation by Wal-Mart. The timeline for announcing the remaining 14 chemicals is not known.