By Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — A shipment of mothballs that could be mistaken for candy due to their colorful packaging may have already arrived in local stores, posing a threat to consumers not aware of their potential dangers, officials from the Environmental Protection Agency warned Tuesday.
The product, Fuji Lavender Moth Tablets, were uncovered earlier this month during an inspection of an overseas shipment at a warehouse in New Jersey, said Judith Enck, regional administrator for the EPA.
The mothballs, which come in pink-hued packaging, are suspected of containing the toxic chemical para-dichlorobenzene that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory problems and other illnesses if inhaled. Swallowing the product can cause damage to the nervous system or, in extreme cases, coma or death, the EPA added.
The mothballs, which feature primarily Chinese characters on the package but also some English, create potentially hazardous consequences for customers in Chinese-speaking communities like Chinatown, where the products could have already landed in local shops.
A total of 4,800 packages of mothballs were discovered by the agency, but an untold number may have already reached store shelves throughout the metropolitan area, Enck said.
"We want shop owners to take it off the shelves," Enck said. "This is the worst possible packaging for a toxic chemical to be placed in."
The EPA, working in conjunction with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, have seized similar substandard products imported to the United States in the past, including baby formula, toothpaste and laundry detergents that may pose health risks.
The sale of these mothballs is a concern in neighborhoods like Chinatown, where storeowners often sell cheaper, imported products, and residents live in closer quarters requiring pest control methods.
"More densely populated areas tend to have more pest problems," Enck said of why Chinatown could be particularly at risk.
The EPA is continuing to investigate the possible spread of these products and will periodically perform enforcement sweeps to check for the illegal pesticide.
