.
Here is some scientific......
http://www.beekeeping.org/articles/us/thymol.htm
Residues in honey after application of thymol against
Varroa using the Frakno Thymol frame
http://www.epa.gov/EPA-PEST/2006/January/Day-18/p436.htm
VI. Determination of Safety for U.S. Population, Infants and Children
1.
U.S. population. The Agency has determined that there is a
reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure
to residues of thymol to the U.S. population. This includes all
anticipated dietary exposures and other non-occupational exposures for
which there is reliable information. The Agency arrived at this
conclusion based on the relatively low levels of mammalian dietary
toxicity associated with thymol, its FDA approval as a direct food
additive, a preservative and indirect food additive of adhesives and
GRAS listing as a spice, natural oil, oleoresin, or natural extract and
information and/or data which demonstrate that the U.S. population is
potentially exposed to 938 times more thymol from the consumption of
foodstuff such as ice cream, cola beverages and candy, to which thymol
is intentionally added, than from thymol consumed in honey (Refs. 22,
23, and MRID 46043510). These data indicate that thymol residues found
in food and foodstuffs exist at significantly higher concentrations
that those residues levels resulting from the use of thymol as a
pesticide. For these reasons, the Agency has determined that thymol
residues in honey will not pose any significant dietary risk under
reasonable foreseeable circumstances residue.
2. Infants and children. FFDCA section 408 provides that EPA shall
apply an additional tenfold margin of exposure (safety) for infants and
children in the case of threshold effects to account for prenatal and
postnatal toxicity and the completeness of the data base unless the EPA
determines that a different margin of exposure (safety) will be safe
for infants and children. Based on all the reliable available
information the Agency reviewed on thymol, the Agency concludes that
there are no residual uncertainties for prenatal/postnatal toxicity
resulting from thymol and that thymol has relatively low toxicity to
mammals from a dietary standpoint, including infants and children thus,
there are no threshold effects of concern and an additional margin of
safety is not necessary to protect infants and children.
Mike
Part of this thread was triggered by my concern that any capped honey produced during the Varroa Apiguard treatment might be tainted . "Murphy's law" then prevailed and I ended up last week with a full surplus super of capped honey laid down during the Apiguarding period. So I took the bull by the horns and spoke to a very senior chap at Vita in the R&D department. I expected him to tut-tut and say Elf & Safety says "@$*£!". So it was very refreshing that he said the treatment was based on a natural product, did not damage the honey and was not toxic in any way. It might possibly leave a slight tang which if you left the extracted honey to breathe for a while could well dissipate. His advice was simply to extract it, perhaps let it stand for a few days and then taste it!!
