Fumigation

Last updated
A building in Riverside, California, subject to tent fumigation, or "tenting" Fumigation Tent Riverside 2011.jpg
A building in Riverside, California, subject to tent fumigation, or "tenting"
Fumigation of a hotel (Vila Shanti) in Bali where the gas even reaches the hotel lobby (February 2010) Fumigating Vila Shanti.jpg
Fumigation of a hotel (Vila Shanti) in Bali where the gas even reaches the hotel lobby (February 2010)

Fumigation is a method of pest control or the removal of harmful microorganisms by completely filling an area with gaseous pesticides, or fumigants, to suffocate or poison the pests within. It is used to control pests in buildings (structural fumigation), soil, grain, and produce. Fumigation is also used during the processing of goods for import or export to prevent the transfer of exotic organisms.

Contents

Structural fumigation targets pests inside buildings (usually residences), including pests that inhabit the physical structure itself, such as woodborers and drywood termites. Commodity fumigation, on the other hand, is also to be conducted inside a physical structure, such as a storage unit, but it aims to eliminate pests from infesting physical goods, usually food products, by killing pests within the container which will house them.

Each fumigation lasts for a certain duration. This is because after spraying the pesticides, or fumigants, only the pests around are eradicated. [1]

Process

Fumigation generally involves the following phases: first, humans are evacuated from the area intended for fumigation and the area covered to create a sealed environment. Next, the fumigant is released into the space to be fumigated. The space is held for a set period while the fumigant gas percolates through the space and acts on/kills any infestation in the area. Finally, the space is ventilated so that the poisonous gases are allowed to escape from the space, rendering it safe for humans to enter. If successful, the fumigated area is now safe and pest free. [2]

Tent fumigation

Structural fumigation techniques differ from building to building. In a residential setting, a "rubber" tent or tents, typically made of plastic/pvc coated canvas material, may be placed over the entire house while the pesticides are being released into the vacant residence. This process is called tent fumigation, or "tenting". The sealed tent concentrates the poisonous gases and prevents them from escaping into the neighborhood. It is commonly used for sulfuryl fluoride for the treatment of termites. [3]

Operating theatres

Fumigation of hospital rooms with high concentrations of toxic chemicals has been proposed to reduce microbial agents on hospital surfaces and to control surgical site infections. [4] Formaldehyde fumigation has long been an accepted method for areas where microbiological cleanliness is required. Fumigation with formaldehyde vapor is the recognized and most commonly used method because it is a cost-effective procedure. [ citation needed ] However, alternative methods are sought due to safety and efficacy concerns. Vaporized hydrogen peroxide is a dry gaseous method that has been used as a reliable alternative for aseptic processing isolators, and more recently, for room/facility decontamination. [5] Hydrogen peroxide and silver in solution and diluted in water is a non-toxic and low cost agent. For example, to fumigate a 1000 ft3 (~28.32  m3) area, a 20% solution (200 mL of solution in 1000 mL demineralized water) would be sprayed via fogger for 30 minutes. Fogging may be done at a rate of up to 130 mL/minute and the contact time should be at least one hour. [6]

Chemicals

At the heart of this technology is the use of chemicals. Ideally, these chemicals kill or passivate the targeted creatures without harming others. Usually such a feat is impossible, so fumigation is conducted in the absence of humans. [3]

Caption text
chemicalboiling point/volatilitysafetycomment
Methyl bromide gas (4.3  °C), TLV-TWA 5 ppm, MAK 5 ppm.restricted by the Montreal Protocol.
ethylene oxide gas (10.7 °C)TLV-TWA 1 ppmfood
sulfuryl fluoride gas (-55 °C)TLV-TWA 5 ppm,applied in tent for termites
chloropicrin 112 ″CTLV-TWA 0.1 ppm, MAK 0.1 ppm,lachrymator.
naphthalene sublimable solid TLV-TWA 10 ppm,fabrics ("mothballs")
phosphine gas (-87.7 °C) ??rodents in grain silos
1,3-dichloropropene 111 °CMAK 75 ppmsoil fumigant

Discontinued or rarely used

Many chemicals have been discontinued owing to safety issues.

Safety

Fumigation is a hazardous operation. Generally it is a legal requirement that the operator who carries out the fumigation operation holds official certification to perform the fumigation, as the chemicals used are toxic to most forms of life, including humans. [1]

Post operation ventilation of the area is a critical safety aspect of fumigation. It is important to distinguish between the pack or source of the fumigant gas and the environment which has been fumigated. While the fumigant pack may be safe and spent, the space will still hold the fumigant gas until it has been ventilated.

See also

Early publication

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyanide</span> Any molecule with a cyano group (–C≡N)

In chemistry, a cyanide is a chemical compound that contains a C≡N functional group. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen cyanide</span> Highly toxic chemical with the formula HCN

Hydrogen cyanide is a chemical compound with the formula HCN and structural formula H−C≡N. It is a colorless, extremely poisonous, and flammable liquid that boils slightly above room temperature, at 25.6 °C (78.1 °F). HCN is produced on an industrial scale and is a highly valued precursor to many chemical compounds ranging from polymers to pharmaceuticals. Large-scale applications are for the production of potassium cyanide and adiponitrile, used in mining and plastics, respectively. It is more toxic than solid cyanide compounds due to its volatile nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formaldehyde</span> Organic compound (H–CHO); simplest aldehyde

Formaldehyde ( for-MAL-di-hide, fər-) (systematic name methanal) is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH2O and structure H−CHO, more precise H2C=O. The compound is a pungent, colourless gas that polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde. It is stored as aqueous solutions (formalin), which consists mainly of the hydrate CH2(OH)2. It is the simplest of the aldehydes (R−CHO). As a precursor to many other materials and chemical compounds, in 2006 the global production of formaldehyde was estimated at 12 million tons per year. It is mainly used in the production of industrial resins, e.g., for particle board and coatings. Small amounts also occur naturally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrazine</span> Colorless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odor

Hydrazine is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula N2H4. It is a simple pnictogen hydride, and is a colourless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odour. Hydrazine is highly toxic unless handled in solution as, for example, hydrazine hydrate.

Bromomethane, commonly known as methyl bromide, is an organobromine compound with formula CH3Br. This colorless, odorless, nonflammable gas is produced both industrially and biologically. It has a tetrahedral shape and it is a recognized ozone-depleting chemical. It was used extensively as a pesticide until being phased out by most countries in the early 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1,2-Dibromoethane</span> Chemical compound

1,2-Dibromoethane, also known as ethylene dibromide (EDB), is an organobromine compound with the chemical formula C
2
H
4
Br
2
. Although trace amounts occur naturally in the ocean, where it is probably formed by algae and kelp, it is mainly synthetic. It is a dense colorless liquid with a faint, sweet odor, detectable at 10 ppm, and is a widely used and sometimes-controversial fumigant. The combustion of 1,2-dibromoethane produces hydrogen bromide gas that is significantly corrosive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phosphine</span> Chemical compound hydrogen phosphide

Phosphine (IUPAC name: phosphane) is a colorless, flammable, highly toxic compound with the chemical formula PH3, classed as a pnictogen hydride. Pure phosphine is odorless, but technical grade samples have a highly unpleasant odor like rotting fish, due to the presence of substituted phosphine and diphosphane (P2H4). With traces of P2H4 present, PH3 is spontaneously flammable in air (pyrophoric), burning with a luminous flame. Phosphine is a highly toxic respiratory poison, and is immediately dangerous to life or health at 50 ppm. Phosphine has a trigonal pyramidal structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sterilization (microbiology)</span> Process that eliminates all biological agents on an object or in a volume

Sterilization refers to any process that removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life and other biological agents present in or on a specific surface, object, or fluid. Sterilization can be achieved through various means, including heat, chemicals, irradiation, high pressure, and filtration. Sterilization is distinct from disinfection, sanitization, and pasteurization, in that those methods reduce rather than eliminate all forms of life and biological agents present. After sterilization, an object is referred to as being sterile or aseptic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pest control</span> Control of harmful species

Pest control is the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest; such as any animal, plant or fungus that impacts adversely on human activities or environment. The human response depends on the importance of the damage done and will range from tolerance, through deterrence and management, to attempts to completely eradicate the pest. Pest control measures may be performed as part of an integrated pest management strategy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulfuryl fluoride</span> Chemical compound

Sulfuryl fluoride (also spelled sulphuryl fluoride) is an inorganic compound with the formula SO2F2. It is an easily condensed gas and has properties more similar to sulfur hexafluoride than sulfuryl chloride, being resistant to hydrolysis even up to 150 °C. It is neurotoxic and a potent greenhouse gas, but is widely used as a fumigant insecticide to control termites.

Chloropicrin, also known as PS (from Port Sunlight) and nitrochloroform, is a chemical compound currently used as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial, fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, and nematicide. It was used as a poison gas in World War I. Its chemical structural formula is Cl3CNO2.

Iodomethane, also called methyl iodide, and commonly abbreviated "MeI", is the chemical compound with the formula CH3I. It is a dense, colorless, volatile liquid. In terms of chemical structure, it is related to methane by replacement of one hydrogen atom by an atom of iodine. It is naturally emitted by rice plantations in small amounts. It is also produced in vast quantities estimated to be greater than 214,000 tons annually by algae and kelp in the world's temperate oceans, and in lesser amounts on land by terrestrial fungi and bacteria. It is used in organic synthesis as a source of methyl groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange oil</span> Essential oil produced in rind of oranges

Orange oil is an essential oil produced by cells within the rind of an orange fruit. In contrast to most essential oils, it is extracted as a by-product of orange juice production by centrifugation, producing a cold-pressed oil. It is composed of mostly d-limonene, and is often used in place of pure d-limonene. D-limonene can be extracted from the oil by distillation.

Vaporized hydrogen peroxide (trademarked VHP, also known as hydrogen peroxide vapor, HPV) is a vapor form of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with applications as a low-temperature antimicrobial vapor used to decontaminate enclosed and sealed areas such as laboratory workstations, isolation and pass-through rooms, and even aircraft interiors.

This is an index of articles relating to pesticides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Department of Pesticide Regulation</span>

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation, also known as DPR or CDPR, is one of six boards and departments of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula CH3SSCH3. It is a flammable liquid with an unpleasant, garlic-like odor. The compound is colorless although impure samples often appear yellowish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulfotep</span> Chemical compound

Sulfotep (also known as tetraethyldithiopyrophosphate and TEDP) is a pesticide commonly used in greenhouses as a fumigant. The substance is also known as Dithione, Dithiophos, and many other names. Sulfotep has the molecular formula C8H20O5P2S2 and belongs to the organophosphate class of chemicals. It has a cholinergic effect, involving depression of the cholinesterase activity of the peripheral and central nervous system of insects. The transduction of signals is disturbed at the synapses that make use of acetylcholine. Sulfotep is a mobile oil that is pale yellow-colored and smells like garlic. It is primarily used as an insecticide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dazomet</span> Chemical compound

Dazomet is a common soil fumigant that acts as a herbicide, fungicide, slimicide, and nematicide.

Biofumigation is a method of pest control in agriculture, a variant of fumigation where the gaseous active substance—fumigant—is produced by decomposition of plant material freshly chopped and buried in the soil for this purpose.

References

  1. 1 2 Baur, Fred (1984-12-01). Insect Management for Food Storage and Processing. American Association of Cereal Chemists. pp. 162–165. ISBN   978-0-913250-38-9.
  2. "What is Fumigation? | Fumigation".
  3. 1 2 Metcalf, Robert L.; Horowitz, Abraham Rami (2014-11-19). "Insect Control, 2. Individual Insecticides". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. doi:10.1002/14356007.s14_s01. ISBN   978-3-527-30673-2.
  4. Byrns, G.; Fuller, T. P. (2011). "The risks and benefits of chemical fumigation in the health care environment". Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 8 (2): 104–12. doi:10.1080/15459624.2011.547453. PMID   21253983. S2CID   19823991.
  5. "Fumigation and Fogging in Pharmaceutical » Pharmaguddu". Pharmaguddu. 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
  6. Meszaros, J. E.; Antloga, K.; Justin, C.; Plesnicher, C.; McDonnell, G. (2005). "Area Fumigation with Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor". Applied Biosafety. 10 (2): 91–100. doi: 10.1177/153567600501000206 .