Carson argued that pesticides are more properly termed "biocides" because of their detrimental effects on the environment, rarely limited to the targeted pests.
Under proposed EU amendments to the existing Biocides Directive, use of these products would be further regulated to protect public health and the environment.
Regulations on the use of biocides were first introduced in 1998, however a loophole that exempted treated products - such as furniture sprayed with fungicide - will be closed.
So the use of the very small quantities of mercury found in Thimerosal provided a very big benefit when they had been used (other biocides are in use now).