All illegal pesticides should be avoided. You have no way of knowing how dangerous an unregistered pesticide is because it hasn`t been tested for safety. Illegal pesticides can be sold on the street or in small neighborhood stores. They have names such as Tres Pasitos or Chalk and often guarantee to kill cockroaches, mice and other domestic parasites. When we visit houses to remove squirrels, birds, bats or other annoying animals in the attics, we often find that the owner has thrown mothballs into the attic to repel intruders. This is not a good decision in more ways than one. Please do not use mothballs for anything other than in airtight containers, which is their intended purpose. And if someone suggests that you use them outdoors, please inform them that this is not only harmful, but also punishable by a heavy fine, as it is illegal to use them in this way. We must work together to protect the environment from these pollutants. There are better ways to keep things like snakes out of your garden if you feel you need them (including the missing snake at Lowe`s, cutting shrubs, storing garden waste, etc.). Mothballs should never be used outdoors. Never. According to the packing instructions, mothballs can legally be used only in airtight storage containers so that harmful toxic fumes do not escape.
It is illegal to use mothballs other than for their intended use, as indicated on the packaging. If you use them outdoors as a snake repellent (or for any other reason), you risk a $10,000 fine, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. We take enforcement action against companies that sell or distribute illegal pesticides. “People often use mothballs in inappropriate places and against fake parasites,” Stock said. “The only recommendation that matters is the product label, a legal document whose instructions must be followed – especially on where the mothballs can be used and what pests they will control.” Listen to a public announcement with Willie Colón on how to avoid illegal pesticides. A common mistake is the use of mothballs in containers that are not airtight, allowing toxic fumes to escape into the ambient air. This can lead to long-term exposure, which can cause health problems. Following the instructions on the label limits exposure to these chemicals and controls moths most effectively.
It is also a legal obligation. “Never mix active ingredients like naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene when using mothballs,” Stone said. Mothball labels typically ask users to place mothballs in a tightly sealed container, which prevents pesticide vapors from accumulating in living quarters where people and pets can inhale them for a long time. In airtight containers, the fumes released by the mothballs accumulate and kill the moths of the clothes. Pesticide products sold or distributed without valid EPA registration (with the exception of certain minimal-risk products that are exempt from registration) are called illegal pesticides. These products can harm you, your family and pets, as well as the environment. Registered pesticide products have been tested for safety by the EPA. Mothballs should not be used in attics, crawl spaces, gardens, garbage cans or vehicles. “Often, mothballs are used in these places to combat parasites other than clothing moths,” Stone said. These include squirrels, skunks, deer, mice, rats, dogs, cats, raccoons, moles, snakes, pigeons and a variety of other animals.
Such use is illegal. “A relatively common mistake is to place mothballs in an attic to keep squirrels away. This almost always leads to a persistent and harmful smell throughout the house. Mothballs or related butterfly crystals, moth flakes or moth cakes contain the chemicals naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. These are technically fumigants that emit fumes that can be harmful to humans and pets if misused. The product label states that mothballs can only be placed in hermetically sealed containers to protect fabrics from clothing moths or carpet beetles. Mothballs and related products should never be used in open spaces, and especially not in living spaces where people can inhale them. If enough mothballs are placed in an attic, and depending on the air exchange in the house, the fumes could affect a child sleeping in an upstairs bedroom. Other common pesticide products that have illegal versions include flea and tick repellents for pets, antibacterial cleaning products, mothballs, and other products that claim to get rid of household pests. It is important to know that mothballs are toxic, so you will deposit a poison around your home that will emit fumes for months. These vapors are insecticides and it is not healthy to inhale them.
According to the National Pesticide Information Center, using mothballs outdoors can harm children, pets and other animals. Mothballs are regulated by the EPA, and the package includes instructions on how to use them legally. Using it in your yard as a snake repellent is not a legal way to use it, and it is toxic to you, your family, and the animals in your home, including pets. Smoke inhalation has been linked to irritation of the lungs and eyes, as well as cancer. In other words, it is contrary to federal law to use mothballs for purposes other than those indicated on the packaging because they are so harmful to humans and animals. Some mothballs intended for sale may be illegal, meaning they have been imported without monitoring of the content or labelling of the product. As they have not been assessed, the risks they pose are unknown. Mothballs are pesticides designed to kill clothing moths and other tissue parasites. They are regulated in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency. The label of a pesticide, including mothballs, indicates exactly where and how you can legally use the product. The use of mothballs in a way not indicated by the label is not only illegal, but can also harm people, pets or the environment. Never mix active ingredients such as naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene when using mothballs.
Few people know that mothballs are pesticides and are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), just like any other pesticide. Using mothballs in a way that is not indicated by the product label is not only illegal, but can also harm others and the environment. There are no moth protection products labeled for use as animal repellents, and there are no moth protection products that can be legally dispersed outdoors in a home. After all, placing mothballs or moth crystals in your attic probably won`t stop determined animals from nesting there (see Don`t use mothballs to keep annoying animals away). A female squirrel will go to an attic as he prepares for childbirth, and once he has established his nest there, it will be very difficult to move him on. Once their young are born, it will be practically impossible to replace them with repellents. Another common mistake is the use of mothballs in gardens or other outdoor spaces to control insects, snakes or other wildlife. The use of mothballs outdoors can harm children, pets and other animals. Mothballs used outdoors can also contaminate soil, plants and water.
The following information includes additional resources for the proper use of mothballs and some alternative methods of combating clothing moths. Mothballs should be used in an airtight space such as a clothes bag or a well-sealed container, never in an open closet or plastic garbage bag, according to the authors. “Once the vapors enter the house, their smell can be detected at a few parts per billion in the air,” Stone said. (One serving per billion is like a few drops of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool.) After vacuuming, immediately vacuum the bag. Boric acid dust can be used to treat cracks and crevices after infested items have been removed and cleaned. However, the authors caution against compliance with labelling requirements when using boric acid dust. A basic rule of gardening is to give indoor plants the conditions they need to thrive. Mothballs should not be used in attics, crawl spaces, gardens, garbage cans or vehicles. Not used to control skunks, mice or other parasites.