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Wastewater Utilities Ask EPA to Regulate Substances With Silver Ions as Pesticides
A group representing wastewater utilities is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to register disinfectants and washing machines that use silver ions to kill microbes as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act because of their potential impact on water quality.
In a letter dated Feb. 14, the National Association of Clean
Water Agencies (NACWA) told EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson that publicly
owned treatment works (POTWs) were "distressed" to observe the increasing
prevalence of household laundry products that use disinfectants containing
silver ions for antimicrobial purposes. Also, a new type of washing machine uses
silver ions as a disinfectant, according to the NACWA letter.
When clothes are laundered, these disinfectants make their way into the sewer
systems and waterways, resulting in adverse environmental impacts because the
utilities have no control over residential uses of silver-based products.
Silver is highly toxic and can bioaccumulate in some aquatic organisms, such as
clams, according to EPA.
"To allow the unrestricted use of a product that intentionally releases silver
into the environment would be an irresponsible neglect of the principles of
environmental sustainability that should strongly influence such decisions,"
NACWA Executive Director Ken Kirk said.
Kirk said NACWA would like EPA to register these products as pesticides under
FIFRA or some other "relevant authority," which can guarantee a thorough review
of these products' environmental impacts. At the same time, NACWA recommends
that EPA collect data on silver ion concentrations and wash cycle volumes found
in particular washing machines to set appropriate water quality limits for these
products.
Wastewater utilities have the authority to regulate silver from industrial and
commercial sources "but have little or no control over the discharge from the
thousands of households they serve," Kirk noted.
The wastewater utilities fear that increased use of silver ion-based
disinfectants in washing machines would increase silver concentrations in POTW
influents and effluents, jeopardizing their ability to meet effluent toxicity
limits.
EPA officials did not return calls seeking comment.
By Amena H. Saiyid