Risks of flea bombs / foggers?

Question

It seems to me that the overwhelming advice of Yahoo! Answers participants in dealing with house fleas is to use poison foggers or bombs to get rid of the fleas.... but what are the risks of exposing people to such poisons? Should I be concerned that there's poisons on my tables, appliances, etc?

Answer 1

Bug Bombs: Over kill Can Be Dangerous

Bug bombs, also called insect foggers, are cans of pesticides that spray out all at once. They are used to kill pests such as cockroaches and fleas. Foggers can be a serious health and safety hazard if you use too many or don’t follow the directions.

Improper use of foggers can make you sick. Overexposure to foggers can cause breathing problems, dizziness and nausea. Foggers can also trigger asthma attacks.

Too many foggers for the size of your house can cause fires or explosions. Keep them away from sparks or flames. Read the warning labels.

More is not better – it’s dangerous!

Some people think, “if one is good, more must be better”. But Overkill is a bad idea when it comes to pesticides and foggers.

Overuse of foggers can result in a visit to the hospital emergency room for breathing problems and other sumptoms. Never use more foggers than are recommended. Get everyone out of the home before you start the fogger.

Foggers use flammable gases to spray out the pesticides.

When you use too many foggers, the vapors build up. A spark from a pilot light, furnace, thermostat, water heater, or other source can cause a fire or explosion. Be sure to read all the warnings on the label.

Better Yet, Use Alternatives

Fleas

Prevention is the best way to manage fleas so you don’t need to use flea sprays or foggers. To prevent fleas from becoming a problem in your home:

Put towels or rugs that you can wash in places where pets sleep. Wash bedding in hot water every week.
Comb pets with a flea comb to remove any fleas.
Vacuum carpets and furniture often where pets usually lie or sit.
Ask you vet about a spot-on treatment or an oral treatment to keep fleas from infesting your pet.
Cockroaches

There are safer and more effective ways to control cockroaches in yor home than using a fogger. Eliminate their food, water and hidng places:

Repair plumbing leaks
Store food in sealed containers and keep pet dishes covered
Keep stove tops, counters, and floors clean of grease and food.
Caulk cracks where roaches hide
Use sticky traps to find the areas where roaches are most active. Then place boric acid or low toxicity baits in those areas.
Professionals can use methods such as vacuuming raoches out of cracks and placing gel baits to control them without using insecticide sprays.
Safety Checklist:

Read the label and all warnings. Follow the Directions!
Use no more than the recommended amount.
Keep the fogger away from pilot lights, sparks or flames.
Get everybody out of the building, including pets. Remove toys and uncovered food.
Stay out of the building for as long as it says on the label.
Air out the area completely after using the fogger.
Wash all tables, counters, and surface used for food.
Tips on pesticides:

Figure out your pest problem. Don’t over react. Seeing a few bugs doesn’t always mean you need to apply pesticides.Find the least toxic way to get rid of them.
Get the right product. Read the label. Use a product that works on the kind of bugs you have.
Buy only the amount you need. To avoid risks of accidents or spills, always handle and dispose of containers properly.
Follow the directions exactly. Pay close attention to warnings. Never use more than is recommended.A New Generation of Flea and Tick Pesticides

In the past when fleas and ticks got seriously out of control, there was little choice but to flood your home with toxic pesticides. One of the most widely used flea controls, chlorpyrifos (used in Dursban and many other products) was on the market for more than 35 years before it was finally withdrawn from use in indoor foggers and pet shampoos. Other uses were restricted because the Environmental Protection Agency concluded chlorpyrifos was associated with chronic neurobehavioral effects and multiple-chemical sensitivity.


Fleas and ticks have become resistant to most pesticides used against them, prompting companies to continually develop new products, to which the pests eventually also develop resistance. The newest generation of flea-control pesticides became available in the mid-1990s. Some of these products act as longterm controls by preventing fleas from laying viable eggs. Others are low-toxicity pesticides you apply once a month between your pet's shoulders to kill fleas quickly and steadily for a period of several weeks. Thus far, these new pesticides appear less toxic than chlorpyrifos, although it's worth remembering it took 35 years for the problems with chlorpyrifos to become apparent.


Though these are chemical controls, Michael Dryden, professor of veterinary parasitology at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, says they're relatively safe and far superior to what's been used in the past. Although some topical liquid treatments can leave behind pesticide residues where pets lie, the toxicity is below what the EPA describes as the "No Observed Effect Level." Most of these products are available only through veterinarians. Less expensive overthe-counter products are available, but their effectiveness varies widely. Some, such as permethrin, are toxic to cats.


Here are some of the newer products you might want to consider:

Lufenuron?Marketed under the brand-name Program, lufenuron is a pill you give your dog once a month (other formulations are available for cats). When they bite into the animal, female fleas are exposed to the insecticide, which prevents their eggs from developing. Although rare, adverse reactions to lufenuron can include vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.


Imidacloprid?Sold as Advantage, this treatment is applied between the animal's shoulders and disperses over its body over several hours. Avoid petting the animal for 24 hours after application. Dryden's research has shown Advantage kills more than 97 percent of fleas inside the home for at least 28 days. Fipronll?Sold under the brandname Frontline, this is another spot-on treatment. It mixes with the oils in your pet's skin and settles in the sebaceous glands, where it continues to be effective for a month or more. Found by Dryden to be more than 98 percent effective in controlling fleas, fipronil also kills ticks. Selamectin?A new topical liquid treatment sold as Revolution, selamectin is labeled for control of fleas, ticks, heartworm, roundworm and hookworm in cats.


Use any of these products sparingly. Dryden says fleas and ticks inevitably will develop some resistance, but when you combine mechanical methods (vacuuming, washing bedding) and judicious use of spot-on treatments, the process will be slowed.

Answer 2

Had flea's and this is how I got rid of them. Depending on how bad it is. Get 3 or 4 dinner plates. set them where you feel most of the flea's are. mix some soap and water in a glass. Fill the plates with this. Now the part that may cost a few buck's. get 3 or 4 reading lamps, the type that you can direct a spot of light. Set next to the plates and direct the light to shine into the plates, leave them overnight. In the morning check the plate. Do this every night until there are no fleas in the plates. Your not done yet. In 6 day's set the plates out again Set them out for about 3 nights. This is how it works. Flea's are attracted to the light, when thay jump into the plate thay drown you need the soap or thay would just float to the side and get out. Soap breaks the surface tension of the water and the flea's sink. Once you see no flea's wait a while till there egg's that thay layed hatch.You'll notice that these flea's are smaller than the first ones. No chemicals no having to hide your food and leave the house for the day. And afterward you can use the lamps for reading.

Answer 3

Are Flea Bombs Safe

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Risks of flea bombs / foggers?
It seems to me that the overwhelming advice of Yahoo! Answers participants in dealing with house fleas is to use poison foggers or bombs to get rid of the fleas.... but what are the risks of exposing people to such poisons? Should I be concerned that there's poisons on my tables, appliances,...

Answer 5

you don;t need a fogger. besides the fleas will return since they don;t kill the eggs. you need a growth regulator like Nylar to kill the eggs. i used it and have no more fleas after about 7 months. a pesticide will kill the adult fleas but not the eggs/larvae .. vaccum sever times a day and mist nylar on the carpets. also treat your pets with frontline.....this will get rid of your problem...also treat your yard.you can get a growth regulator at a local chemical store for about 10 bucks....

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Answer 7

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Answer 8

Most of the pesticides used in foggers now days are not that dangerous. Your cabinets should be closed so not enough will get on the dishes....only harm would be if food was setting out. As far as people...everyone should be out of the house during fogging. I think most suggest no entry for two hours...some 4 hours.

Only the old out dated foggers used flammable gases in them. The ones now days are non-combustible...so no need to turn off pilot lights

Answer 9

make sure to turn off all pilot lights or maybe booom!