Health effects of exposure to pesticides in buildings. Exposure to common pesticides used indoors including Dursban and Lorsban, and Chlordane in older homes. How to reduce indoor exposure to pesticides.
Here we describe the detection of and risks of exposure to pesticides applied indoors in buildings. We discuss methods to reduce indoor pesticide exposure as a step in improving health and indoor air quality in homes.
Our page top photo shows an abandoned pesticide bottle found during a home inspection.
When we find old pesticide containers indoors we caution home buyers that a previous owner may have been applying chemicals without proper expertise. Read the label and use pesticides as directed.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?
Pesticide Indoor Exposure Hazards & Health Effects
This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (Steve Bliss, J Wiley & Sons) , by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons.
Watch out: OPINION: don't panic about insects or bugs that you may see on or around your home.
A single bug like the one shown at left (clambering around on our garage door) does not merit a declaration of chemical warfare. Most insects seen on or around homes are harmless and should not be attacked.
The health risks to humans from overdoing chemical sprays and treatments applied in a panic can be significant.
Worse, misapplication of pesticides inside the home can lead to serious indoor health hazards for the building's human or pet occupants.
On the other hand, as our photo at left (termite mud tubes) illustrates, even with care to avoid or fix building leaks (a key attractant to classes of termites, carpenter ants, and other wood destroying insects), is not always enough.
Sometimes it may be necessary to consult with a professional pest inspector or pesticide applicator.
See INSECT INFESTATION / DAMAGE for details about preventing or correcting problems from wood destroying insects.
As stated in Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction:
Pesticides are a special class of organic chemicals designed
to kill living organisms. In addition to the compounds used
in the home and garden, the class of chemicals regulated as
pesticides also include kitchen and bath disinfectants, flea
and tick products, and swimming pool chemicals.
In most
cases, both the active ingredient targeted to one or more
pests and the “inert” carriers are organic chemicals that are
toxic to humans.
Studies indicate that up to 80% of most people’s exposure
to pesticides occurs indoors and that measurable
levels of up to a dozen pesticides have been found in the
air inside homes.
Because of its widespread use for over
30 years, more than 80 percent of Americans already have
traces of Dursban in their bodies, according to the Centers
for Disease Control.
Another study found Dursban in the
carpet dust of 67 percent of homes surveyed.
Also, remember that a pesticide found “safe” to use
today may be determined to be unsafe tomorrow.
Chlordane,
the most widely use termiticide for decades, was
banned in 1988 because of its toxicity to humans and its
persistence in the environment.
Chlordane was largely replaced by Dursban (chlorpyrifos), an organophosphate.
Dursban became
the most widely used pesticide in the United States
until it was phased out starting in 2000, along with the
popular pesticide diazinon, because of the risks they posed
to humans, especially to the growth and nervous system
development of children.
How safe is Dursban (chlorpyrifos)?
Chlorpyrifos, described by some writers as a "nerve gas pesticide"[1] atReferences or Citations . What's that about? What makes chlorpyrifos very effective against insect pests is that it attacks the central nervous system. I [DF] certainly observed what looked like a neurological effect when spraying older chlorpyrifos-containing versions of RAID™ on insects. They would top quickly and writhe madly in place.
Chlorpyrifos has been shown to cause brain damage in humans and other animals, reducing I.Q.s, causing tremors in children, and being linked to both lung cancer and Parkinson's disease in adults.
Chlorpyrifos is already ubiquitous in the environment. In 2012 a study testing for chlorpyrifos in umbilical cord blood found chlorpyrifos in 87% of newborn babies in the U.S. The following information is from the U.S. EPA.
To address health and environmental risks from chlorpyrifos exposure, the following restrictions have been placed on pesticide products containing chlorpyrifos:
In June 2000, we eliminated all homeowner uses, except ant and roach baits in child resistant packaging and fire ant mound treatments. In addition, termiticide uses were phased out.
In 2000, we required that all uses of chlorpyrifos products in the U.S. be discontinued on tomatoes. Use on apples was restricted to pre-bloom and dormant application. The grape tolerance (maximum residue level) was lowered to reflect the labeled dormant application.
In 2002, we limited the use of chlorpyrifos on citrus and tree nuts as well other crops.
In 2012, we further limited the use of chlorpyrifos by significantly lowering pesticide application rates and creating “no-spray” buffer zones around public spaces, including recreational areas and homes. - U.S. EPA citedbelow.
In 2017 the Trump administration rejected the U.S. EPA's proposed ban on the use of chlorpyrifos for agricultural an doutdoor use. [Dow Chemical who produces chlorpyrifos donated $1 Million to the Trump inauguration.
Dow stands by the safety of chlorpyrifos. [1] ] This is the case even though the US EPA found up to 140 times the safe level of chlorpyrifos in fruits and vegetables sold in the U.S.
Health Effects of Exposure to Pesticides
Our photo shows drill marks we found in the rim joist of an older home in the Hudson Valley of New York.
As we explain in detail at INSECT INFESTATION / DAMAGE, these drill marks were evidence of an amateur attempt at pesticide application: the location, irregularity, angle, and other details of these drill marks made us nervous.
We tested a sliver of this wood and found that it was still contaminated with Chlordane - misapplied on the building interior.
There are nearly 900 pesticides registered
for use in the United States. Nearly all are at least
moderately toxic to humans and pets and many are highly
toxic.
Symptoms of overexposure to pesticides include irritation
to the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, blurred
vision, nausea, loss of coordination, muscular weakness,
and damage to the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys.
Every registered pesticide has a “signal” word on the
label, ranking the level of toxicity to humans, as follows:
Danger—Poison: highly poisonous to humans or other animals
Danger: poisonous or corrosive
Warning: moderately hazardous
Caution: least hazardous
Problematic pesticides used in & around households
Photo: the editor's grandson, Chase Gilligan and a friend helped us illustrate a sign indicating a Pesticide Free Zone in Haddonfield, New Jersey in 2000.
Organophosphates and carbonates.
These two
classes of chemicals, including Dursban and Lorsban,
kill insects by disrupting their nervous systems. Studies
indicate that they affect the birth weight and neural
development of infants.
From 1993 to 1996, nearly
63,000 reports were made to U.S. poison control centers
about residential exposures to organophosphates,
according to the U.S. EPA. Almost 25,000 of these
incidents involved children under 6, who are particularly
vulnerable to organophosphate poisoning and at
least 482 resulted in hospitalization.
Mothballs - human exposure hazards: Mothballs contain either of the chemicals
paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene. Paradichlorobenzene
is classified as a possible human carcinogen by
the EPA, and its vapors can irritate skin, eyes, and the
respiratory tract. Large doses can damage the liver.
Mothballs are not intended to be placed in open spaces such as rooms, closets, or vehicles. Rather they should be used in an airtight space such as a clothes storage bag. [7]
Mothballs are fumigants that will dissolve or sublime at lower temperatures; mothballs thus work by a process of sublimation - the solid ball of chemicals converts directly to a gas that enters the air nearby. [2][7] But believe it or not mothballs or moth crystals may also be a child hazard if eaten - as has happened. [3][6][7]
Symptoms of exposure to
naphthalene include headache, nausea,
dizziness, and difficulty breathing.
Paradichlorobenzene is also a potential
hazard, although typically less so
compared to naphthalene. ... Eating just one mothball containing
naphthalene can damage a young child’s
red blood cells.... [7]
Exposure to naphthalene promotes hemolytic anemia,
associated with fatigue in mild cases and acute kidney
failure in severe cases. Poisonings of infants have
been reported after dressing the children in clothing
stored in naphthalene mothballs.
When possible, the best approach
is to find non chemical approaches to pests. When chemicals
must be used, choose the least toxic option, and use it
outdoors, if possible, and away from areas used by pets
and children who will track it back into the house.
Use insect-resistant construction materials and
techniques. The use of termiticides can be reduced or
eliminated by careful detailing of entry points, and by
using alternative building materials, such as steel,
masonry, concrete, insulating concrete forms (ICFs),
or treated lumber.
Borate-treated lumber is nontoxic
to humans and very effective against termites and
carpenter ants as long as it is not exposed to regular
wetting.
Use non chemical methods of pest and weed control.
Since outdoor pesticides and herbicides invariably end
up indoors on carpets and in the air, it is prudent to
reduce the use of chemicals indoors and out. Options
include integrated pest management, biological
pesticides, and planting disease-resistant plants.
If using chemicals, choose the least toxic. Look for
products with the signal word “warning” or “caution”
rather than “danger.” Baits and traps are better than
sprays or “bug bombs.”
Read the label and closely follow instructions. If you
must handle pesticides, wear gloves and long sleeves
and avoid breathing the vapors. Always keep these
chemicals away from children. Carefully follow
directions with regard to concentration, protective
gear, and restricting access to treated areas. Always
ventilate the area well after use, and mix or dilute
chemicals outdoors if possible.
Dispose of unwanted pesticides safely. Most of these
chemicals contain VOCs that will vaporize and get
into the household air. If you cannot dispose of partially
used containers, store outside the living space.
Minimize exposure to moth repellants. When used,
place mothballs, moth repellent cakes or moth crystals in a well-sealed trunk or other container that
can be stored in ventilated areas outside of the main
living space, such as attics or attached garages.
Minimize exposure to some air fresheners: Paradichlorobenzene is also the active ingredient in
many air fresheners and should be avoided.
Pesticides in drinking water - pesticide contamination of drinking water wells - see PESTICIDE CONTAMINATION TEST for water testing advice.
- - Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (Steve Bliss, J Wiley & Sons) .
If you Smell Pesticides or Other Chemicals Watch Out for Fatal Hazards
Odors from pesticides or other chemicals applied in or around a building may be harmful, even fatal to building occupants.
As with just about any chemical or substance, the hazard level depends on the dose and exposure, but as we discuss at ENDOCRINE DISRUPTERS at BUILDINGS even extremely low concentrations, as little as a single molecule of some substances can have very serious health effects depending on exposure conditions and who is being exposed.
Watch out: Be sure that the person selecting and applying pesticdes in or around your building is a properly trained, experienced, and licensed pest control operator.
In the 1980's we intercepted a newly-hired pest control operator who, standing under a literal rain of chlordane, was spraying both a wood-sided home in Poughkeepsie, NY (for carpenter ant control) and was about to soak the ground around the property's water supply well. We asked the operator if he was worried about being soaked with Chlordaine.
"Nah," he replied, "I've been doing this for three months now and I feel just fine."
While pesticide exposure studies may be performed on rats rather than human subjects, rats are little mammals; they're not pet rocks. It would be ridiculous to claim that a chemical that kills rats can be safely assumed to be harmless to humans, particularly to pre-natal and infants.(Barnett 1985).
Improper application of pesticides inside or even outside and around buildings and in building crawl spaces, attics or other areas can be far worse than ineffective against pests: it can be fatal for building occupants.
In January 2017 four children died from breathing lethal gases that were generated when Weevil-Cide was sprayed under a home, then later tried to address a pesticide odor in the home by spraying water into the same area.
The result, reported by various sources including CNN and AcrossAmerica Patch (patch.com) was the production of a toxic gas that killed children in the home and left others very ill.
Reader Question: How can we get rid of an annoying mothball odor in our Condo?
We moved into a condo, which is a concrete block structure 3 months ago. Shortly after the move we began to smell moth balls. After following the smell we were able to find out that the unit above us displaced several moth balls throughout there unit, tightly sealed the unit up without air conditioning on(we live in Florida) and left for the summer.
As the smell increased in our unit we begged parties involved to rid the unit of the moth balls and air it out.
Finally this was done, however even though the smell appears to be gone sometimes, other times we can still smell a bad odor, sometimes now the odor is less mothball smell and just simply a bad odor. We have tried everything and are desperate to solve the problem. Is it possible to get rid of this toxic odor? Any help would be greatly appreciated. - B.P. 9/22/2012
Reply: How to get rid of mothball odors in buildings, contents, clothing, furnishings
Indeed the odor from moth repellent products (paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene) penetrates many materials including even drywall and furnishings.
It can take quite a while for the smell to diminish.
at MOTHBALL ODORS we have included your question again in the FAQs section where we also have provided a detailed list of suggestions for getting rid of mothball odors, starting with ventilating the source area but adding other steps as well.
Please take a look at that article and let us know if questions remain.
The photo at left, though a white moth-like insect, is not a clothing-attacking moth, as you'll read at our mothball odor article.
Reader Question: my neighbour is spraying pesticide on my air conditioner
(Mar 29, 2013) Deborah So. CA said:
I am concerned that my psychopath neighbor is spraying a pesticide on my air conditioning unit. How can I test for this? Is there a city or county inspector I should seek out?
Reply:
I suggest:
Contacting an environmental testing lab to confirm that you can use a sterile wipe (sterile cotton or swab) to wipe a representative surface for the lab to test. Discuss the common pesticides available in spray form and assure that the test will cover those chemicals. Typically you purchase one or several sterile swabs in sealed containers, use the swab, and return it to the test lab.
You might also set up a webcam to record activity.
You have the option of hiring a professional environmental test consultant but frankly, the cost - benefit sounds doubtful to me.
Research & Resources on Pesticide Hazards In & Around Buildings
Bansal, S. K., S. R. Verma, A. K. Gupta, and R. C. Dalela. "Physiological dysfunction of the haemopoietic system in a fresh water teleost, Labeo rohita, following chronic chlordane exposure. Part I—Alterations in certain haematological parameters." Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 22, no. 1 (1979): 666-673.
Barnett, John B., Benny L. Blaylock, Jay Gandy, Jay H. Menna, Richard Denton, and Lee SF Soderberg. "Long-term alteration of adult bone marrow colony formation by prenatal chlordane exposure." Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 14, no. 4 (1990): 688-695.
Barnett, John B., David Holcomb, Jay H. Menna, and Lee SF Soderberg. "The effect of prenatal chlordane exposure on specific anti-influenza cell-mediated immunity." Toxicology letters 25, no. 3 (1985): 229-238.
Cantu, Tony, "Four Children Die in Amarillo After Inadvertently Inhaling Poisonous Gas" , Across America Patch, patch.com, 2 January 2017
Cassidy, Richard A., Charles V. Vorhees, Daniel J. Minnema, and Lloyd Hastings. "The effects of chlordane exposure during pre-and postnatal periods at environmentally relevant levels on sex steroid-mediated behaviors and functions in the rat." Toxicology and applied pharmacology 126, no. 2 (1994): 326-337.
CHLORPRYFINOS EPA REGULATIONS 2017 [PDF] U.S. EPA, retrieved 2017/11/06, original source https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/chlorpyrifos
CHLORPYRIFOS POISONING DATA, REVIEW OF (PDF, 70 pp, 7MB) 1997 retrieved 2017/11/06, original source https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/cleared_reviews/csr_PC-059101_14-Jan-97_410.pdf
Introduction Excerpts:
Chlorpyrifos (trade name Dursban, Lorsban and others) is an organophosphate insecticide widely used in the United States. As a result of this widespread use, there hav been numerous exposures and poisonings.
Detailed analysis of the incident data identified specific use patterns that are more likely to be associated with pesticide poisoning. Depending on the type of use, risk mitigation measures are recommended to reduce the associated types of poisoning.
In addition to acute poisoning, chlorpyrifos and other organophosphate insecticides have been reported to be associated with chronic effects in humans, including peripheral neuropathy, chronic neurobehavioral effects, and the reported development of a sensitivity to chemicals previously tolerated which is associated with a wide variety of symptoms. Evidene for these effects is also reviewed.
Chlorpyrifos affects the nervous system
by reversibly inhibiting the activity of cholinesterase (ChE), an enzyme necessary for the proper
functioning of the nervous system. Inhibition of ChE is the most sensitive effect in all animal
species evaluated and in humans, regardless of exposure duration.
In animals, significant
inhibition of plasma and red blood cell (RBC) ChE occur at doses below those that cause brain
ChE inhibition.
In animals, significant plasma and RBC ChE have been observed at oral doses as
low as 0.025 to 0.3 mg/kg/day following exposure for two weeks to two years, while significant
brain ChE inhibition has been observed at oral doses as low as 1 mg/kg/day following exposure
for two weeks in pregnant rats (Hoberman 1998a,b). ...
... Weight of Evidence Characterization and Conclusions of the "Chlorpyrifos Children's Hazard:
Sensitivity and Susceptibility" document (March 28, 2000, HED No. 014074) are presented
below.
The weight of evidence provides appreciable support for the increased sensitivity of the young
compared to adult rats to the neurotoxic effects of chlorpyrifos and for the susceptibility of the
developing brain to chlorpyrifos treatment.
A number of different rat studies clearly demonstrate
that at a given oral dose the young rat will respond more to the anticholinesterase effects of
chlorpyrifos (as defined biochemically and behaviorally) than adult animals.
The differential found
between pups and adult animals is a function of the treatment dose, duration of treatment, timing
of treatment (i.e., developmental stage) and of measurements (i.e., time to peak effect), and the
toxicological endpoint examined. At high acute doses, chlorpyrifos is fatal to the rat pup, but
produces no lethality and little to no behavioral changes in the adult rat (e.g., LD10 and MTD
doses = neonate-15 mg/kg; adult-136 and 100 mg/kg, respectively).
At the LD10 or MTD doses
neonates are up to ~5-fold more sensitive than adult rats to ChEI (brain and blood) and
clinical/behavioral effects. Furthermore, at a single treatment of 15 mg/kg, the down-regulation
of the cholinergic (muscarinic) receptors was more extensive in the pups than in adults treated
with 80 mg/kg. The magnitude of change, the effective time points, and the brain regions
involved were different in pups versus adult rats.
This suggests that the cholinergic receptors are
more readily altered in the pup following chlorpyrifos treatment. Although the consequence of
this is unknown, cholinergic receptors play an important role in normal brain development.
The increase in sensitivity between young and adult animals appears to occur at acute doses below
15 mg/kg.
CHLORPYRIFOS, TOXICOLOGY CHAPTER FOR [PDF] 2000, U.S. EPA retrieved 2017/11/06, original source https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/cleared_reviews/csr_PC-059101_18-Apr-00_a.pdf
Eddleston, Michael, Lakshman Karalliedde, Nick Buckley, Ravindra Fernando, Gerard Hutchinson, Geoff Isbister, Flemming Konradsen et al. "Pesticide poisoning in the developing world—a minimum pesticides list." The Lancet 360, no. 9340 (2002): 1163-1167.
Abstract:
In parts of the developing world, pesticide poisoning causes more deaths than infectious diseases. Use of pesticides is poorly regulated and often dangerous; their easy availability also makes them a popular method of self-harm.
In 1985, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) produced a voluntary code of conduct for the pesticide industry in an attempt to limit the harmful effects of pesticides. Unfortunately, a lack of adequate government resources in the developing world makes this code ineffective, and thousands of deaths continue today.
WHO has recommended that access to highly toxic pesticides be restricted—where this has been done, suicide rates have fallen. Since an Essential Drugs List was established in 1977, use of a few essential drugs has rationalised drug use in many regions. An analogous Minimum Pesticides List would identify a restricted number of less dangerous pesticides to do specific tasks within an integrated pest management system.
Use of safer pesticides should result in fewer deaths, just as the change from barbiturates to benzodiazepines has reduced the number of deaths from pharmaceutical self-poisoning.
Edson, E. F. "AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES." [PDF] British Medical Journal 1, no. 4917 (1955): 841.
Excerpt: The safest chemical can be dangerous if sufficiently mishandled, while
the most hazardous can be safely used so long as adequate precautions are
maintained.
Fenik, Jolanta, Maciej Tankiewicz, and Marek Biziuk. "Properties and determination of pesticides in fruits and vegetables." TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry 30, no. 6 (2011): 814-826.
Abstract excerpt:
The intensive development of agriculture means that more and more toxic organic and inorganic compounds are entering the environment. Because of their widespread use, stability, selective toxicity and bioaccumulation, pesticides are among the most toxic substances contaminating the environment.
They are particularly dangerous in fruit and vegetables, by which people are exposed to them. It is therefore crucial to monitor pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables using all available analytical methods.
The year 1972 saw nearly 500,000 pesticide poisoning cases around the world. The figure for
1981 was 750,.000. The problem continues to worsen. It is estimated that every year close to two
million people worldwide are poisoned by pesticides, and 40 000 of them die as a result. This
trend is disturbing and difficult to explain.
Holladay, Steven D., and Ralph J. Smialowicz. "Development of the murine and human immune system: differential effects of immunotoxicants depend on time of exposure." Environmental health perspectives 108, no. Suppl 3 (2000): 463.
McConnachie, P. R., and Arthur C. Zahalsky. "Immune alterations in humans exposed to the termiticide technical chlordane." Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal 47, no. 4 (1992): 295-301.
Milby, Thomas H. "Prevention and management of organophosphate poisoning." JAMA 216, no. 13 (1971): 2131-2133.
Abstract:
The organophosphates are the pesticides most often involved in serious human poisoning. That involvement is likely to increase, because recent governmental actions against the use of DDT and related organochlorine pesticides will likely increase the domestic and agricultural use of the organophosphate pesticides.
Accordingly, practicing physicians in all communities should know how to diagnose and treat organophosphate intoxication and how to advise patients on the principles of poisoning prevention.
The organophosphate pesticides, a closely related family of chemicals, share a number of characteristics which are of considerable importance to the clinician. They are widely used as insecticides, and all are cholinesterase inhibitors of varying potency.
All may penetrate the intact skin but do not accumulate in body tissues as do many of the chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides. The organophosphates are nonpersistent in the environment; that is, after application they rapidly break down into relatively nontoxic substances. Lastly, all are capable of ...
Newsome, John and Shawn Nottingham, "4 Children die when pesticide, water mix creates toxic gas", CNN, 2 January 2017
Tankiewicz, Maciej, Jolanta Fenik, and Marek Biziuk. "Determination of organophosphorus and organonitrogen pesticides in water samples." TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry 29, no. 9 (2010): 1050-1063.
Abstract:
Pesticides are among the most dangerous environmental pollutants because of their stability, mobility and long-term effects on living organisms. Their presence in sources of drinking water, essential to life, is a particular danger. In water, these compounds can undergo transformations that lead to production of substances of even greater toxicity.
Legal regulations in force stipulate the highest permissible level of pesticides and their residues in water samples, so sensitive, selective analytical techniques have to be applied, appropriate to the low levels of the target analytes.
One problem associated with the application of organophosphorus and organonitrogen pesticides (OPPs and ONPs) is the need to monitor their levels in the environment, especially in water, in view of their ability to accumulate.
The analysis of water samples for the presence of pesticides is fraught with difficulties, since preparation of samples is an arduous, time-consuming process, which can itself give rise to additional contamination and errors. The generally low levels of target analytes and often the complexity of the matrix are further problems with which the analyst has to contend.
This article examines the techniques most commonly used for extracting and determining OPPs and ONPs, and discusses the analytical problems arising at each stage of the analytical procedure.
PESTICIDES CONTAMINATE HOUSE [PDF] - news article about improperly applied pesticide chemicals and building contamination
PESTICIDE ODORS [US EPA Web Page] U.S. EPA advice on pesticides and possible pesticide contamination. at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/
Theus, S. A., D. R. Tabor, L. S. F. Soderberg, and J. B. Barnett. "Macrophage tumoricidal mechanisms are selectively altered by prenatal chlordane exposure." Inflammation Research 37, no. 1 (1992): 140-146.
Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.
Search the InspectApedia website
Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed:if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.
Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
IF above you see "Comment Form is loading comments..." then COMMENT BOX - countable.ca / bawkbox.com IS NOT WORKING.
In any case you are welcome to send an email directly to us at InspectApedia.com at[email protected]
We'll reply to you directly. Please help us help you by noting, in your email, the URL of the InspectApedia page where you wanted to comment.
Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
Steve Bliss's Building Advisor at buildingadvisor.com helps homeowners & contractors plan & complete successful building & remodeling projects: buying land, site work, building design, cost estimating, materials & components, & project management through complete construction. Email: [email protected]
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com
[1] Kristof, Nicholas, "Trump's Legacy: Damaged Brains", The New York Times, 29 October 2017 Sunday Review p. 9
[2] Thomas M. Riddick, "Controlling Taste, Odor and Color With Free Residual Chlorination", Journal (American Water Works Association)
Vol. 43, No. 7 (JULY 1951), pp. 545-552, American Water Works Association, Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41236445
[3] Douglas M. Baker, M.D., "Holiday Hazards", Pediatric Emergency Care, Vol. 1 No. 4, December 1985 Lippincott-Raven, retrieved 9/22/12
Abstract: Presented is a selective review of the toxicities of various plants, decorations, and miscellaneous items popularly used during the holiday season. Particularly hazardous agents include mistletoe, holly, bubble lights, fireplace flame colors, alkaline batteries, and mothballs. Specific questions regarding management of exposure to these items should be referred to regional poison control centers. Avoidance is the most effective treatment. ... [regarding mothballs, ... decontamination is advised for ingestions of greater than one half of a naphthalene mothball and more than two to three paradichlorobenzene mothballs ...]
[4] Charles M. McGinley, P.E., Michael A. McGinley, MHS, Donna L. McGinley, " “Odor Basics”,
Understanding and Using Odor Testing", paper presentation, The 22nd Annual Hawaii Water Environment Association Conference.,
Honolulu, Hawaii: 6-7 June 2000, St. Croix Sensory Inc. / McGinley Associates, P.A.
13701 - 30th Street Circle North
Stillwater, MN 55082 U.S.A.
800-879-9231
[email protected], retrieved 9/22/12, original source http://www.fivesenses.com/Documents/Library/33%20
%20Odor%20Basics.pdf, [copy on file as Odor_Basics.pdf]
[5] Jon H. Ruth, "Odor Thresholds and Irritation Levels of Several Chemical Substances: A Review", American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
Volume 47, Issue 3, 1986, retrievedf 9/22/12, Abstract: A collation of odor threshold data for approximately 450 chemical substances is presented. The range of odor thresholds reported in the literature is shown along with any reported threshold of irritation to humans. These data can assist the industrial hygienist in determining when an “odor” may be in excess of the Threshold Limit Value®, when an organic vapor respirator is not acceptable due to the lack of an odor warning at the end of a cartridge life, and where odors may not indicate a hazard due to extremely low odor thresholds which may be well below the respective TLVs.
[6] Edward Avila DO,
Paul Schraeder MD,
Ajit Belliappa MD,
Scott Faro MD, "Pica With Paradichlorobenzene Mothball Ingestion Associated With Toxic Leukoencephalopathy", Journal of Neuroimaging
Volume 16, Issue 1, pages 78–81, January 2006, retrieved 9/22/12,
Abstract: This is a case report of central nervous system toxicity associated with paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) ingestion. The patient had ingested mothballs composed of 99.99% PDCB for a period of 7 months. She was admitted for depression and had no neurologic symptoms. Later she developed an acute cerebellar syndrome followed by stupor and coma. An extensive workup was negative except for decreasing levels of PDCB in her serum. Imaging revealed a diffuse leukoencephalopathy. Her clinical picture was attributed to PDCB toxicity.
[7] Stone, David L. (David Louis), Stock, T. (Tim), "Mothballs: proper use and alternative controls for clothes moths", PNW 606-E, May 2008, Oregon State University. Extension Service
Washington State University. Extension
University of Idaho. Extension, May, 2008, retrieved 9/22/12, original source: http://scholarsarchive.library.oregonstate.edu/
xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/20800/pnw606-e.pdf?sequence=1, citation: http://hdl.handle.net/1957/20800, Abstract: In some homes, clothes moths can damage garments and other belongings. There are two common species of clothes moths in the Pacific Northwest: the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) and the casemaking clothes moth (Tinea pellionella). The larvae, or immature form, of the moths are responsible for the damage done to personal belongings. [copy on file as Mothballs_Guide_PNW.pdf]
Citing the following 2 sources on mothball chemistry, use, hazards:
[8] Black, Judy. Fabric and Museum Pests. In
Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, 9th edition,
S.A. Hedges and D. Moreland, eds. GIE Media,
Cleveland, OH, 2004, pp. 581 –623.
[9] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Illness Associated with Exposure to Naphthalene
in Mothballs—Indiana. Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report, 1983, Vol. 32: 34–5.
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: [email protected]. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.