[gardeners] Fertilizer Caution
Byron Bromley (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Thu, 6 Apr 2000 20:09:36 -0400
I found this on another site, The poster has been a reliable source. I am
attempting to find brand names.
FWIW
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April 5, 2000
HIGH LEVELS OF CADMIUM PROMPT FERTILIZER RECALL
OLYYMPIA, Washington, April 5, 2000 (ENS) - A statewide stop sale order on
eight lots of commercial fertilizer was issued Monday by the state
Department of Agriculture and fertilizer company RSA MicroTech of Seattle.
The fertilizer exceeds the limit for cadmium established by the state
Fertilizer Act. RSA manufactures micronutrient fertilizers, and has a policy
of meeting Washington state fertilizer standards, even if the product is
shipped elsewhere in the country. The stop sale includes a shipment of zinc
sulfate, a raw material used in the manufacture of commercial fertilizer and
the
source of the cadmium. The zinc sulfate was imported from China and brokered
through an Oregon company. It was represented to RSA as containing
acceptable levels of cadmium. State and federal officials are tracking
additional distribution of the zinc sulfate.
The stop sale follows a March 24 letter from RSA asking its customers
throughout the U.S. and Canada not to sell or use four products manufactured
between Nov. 29, 1999 and March 21, 2000 because the company suspected they
might contain unacceptable levels of cadmium. Last week, RSA notified the
state Department of Agriculture that it received two shipments of zinc
sulfate containing extremely high levels of cadmium. "I commend RSA
MicroTech for its actions," said Governor Gary Locke. "Working together, RSA
and the Department of Agriculture proved our fertilizer law works. It's a
warning system and stop light on the road to the sale of potentially
hazardous material in Washington."
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