Why does the label on a bottle of Pine Sol say, "It is a violation of
federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its
labeling"? Exactly what uses are unlawful? We'd hate to be sent up the
river on a Pine Sol rap.
--Hank Keedy and James Nielock, Chicago
What, you think this is funny? OK, it's funny. But as you know if you've
ever tried a few gosh-Myrtle-did-you-remember-the-bomb jokes at the
airport, you don't want to try kidding the feds. Disinfectants are legally
classified as pesticides, which are regulated by the Environmental
Protection Agency. A warning is required on the labels of all such
products, regardless of their potential threat to the biota. Strictly
speaking, the EPA could nab you if you used too high a concentration of
Pine Sol (or Lysol or what have you) or, for that matter, too low. This
may seem like a classic case of bureaucratic overkill--you can just
imagine EPA SWAT teams swooping down on Grandma to see if she's mixing the
Pine Sol right--but actually it does make some sense. Insecticides kill
insects, and nobody doubts they ought to be regulated; disinfectants kill
microorganisms, so it stands to reason they should be regulated, too.
Lest you be overcome with paranoia, be assured that much of the EPA's
enforcement effort is directed at disinfectant manufacturers, to see that
their products are registered and labeled with the proper directions and
so forth. On the consumer side, they usually just keep tabs on larger
users--hospitals and day-care centers, say. They'll only check up on an
individual when there's an injury or a citizen complaint. Ergo, if you're
into serious Pine Sol abuse, make sure you do it out of sight of the
neighbors. Sanctions, should it come to that, range from a warning letter
for a first offense to fines and even criminal prosecution. For what it's
worth, most EPA citations of individuals involve weed killers and
pesticides; nobody I spoke to could recall a disinfectant bust. Always a
first time, though. Not that I want to encourage eco-crime, boys, but you
could be Pine Sol's answer to the Exxon Valdez.
Copyright © 1998 by Chicago Reader, Incorporated
"The Straight Dope by Cecil Adams" is a trademark of Chicago Reader, Incorporated
