fumigation - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

lktknow · 04-16-2009, 08:57 AM

Our building is being fumigated this coming week, and the company doing the fumigation gave us brochures on the different procedures to follow as far as what to remove from the place and all, but I went in search of some sort of forum, discussing the topic of fumigation, so I could get a bit more insight on the subject. But much to my surprise, I came up with nothing!.
I basically wanted to know what the people did, as far as returning to the place being fumigated, and how they felt about the after effects of the gas.
The building is being tented, and VIKANE GAS is being used. Has anyone had any experiences with this particular fumigation?
They say the gas stays in "pockets" in different things in the house, but they do not expound on it?? LIke for instance CD's, does it mean if I leave the cds, that when I return and open the cds, the gas will escape? this may sound like a dumb question, But??
thank you for any information you will give me.

thingstodo · 04-22-2009, 02:54 AM

Found this:

With regard to your August article concerning termites and their disposition, I have the following questions:
Q Why is Vikane gas deadly to termites but not harmful to pets, plants and humans?

A Your question is not quite correct. Vikane is equally deadly to all of the above. However, pets and humans are not supposed to be inside the house when it is fumigated. Plants that are to be saved should be removed from the house. The fumigators make certain there are no living beings inside the house, then lock it and secure the tarps around the house so that no one or thing can enter before the gas is sent into the house.

In order to save plants in the ground that would be enclosed by the fumigators' tarps, water the plants heavily. The water keeps the gas away from the plants' roots and, thereby, saves them.

Q Is there really no residue from the gas? Does this mean I don't have to remove food or wash all items in the house after tenting?

A There is absolutely no residue and you don't have to wash anything.

Q How long is the house poisonous for termites and how long will they keep termites from entering?

A Once the fumigating is complete, the fumigator (wearing self-contained breathing apparatus) opens and removes the tarps and starts up blowers to facilitate the dissipation of the gas. The law requires that the fumigator wait six hours after opening the tarps to take air samples to assure that the air inside the house is safe. If this means the fumigator has to come by the next day, then the house is locked (to keep people out) until the samples can be taken.

Once the Vikane gas is gone (and there is no residue), the house is no longer harmful to termites, humans or pets.
You may rightly say, "you mean that I will have spent all of that money and the termites can return to my house the next day? I don't like that.

I understand your concern, but let me tell you about dry wood termite biology. The swarm of dry wood termites (if, as and when they enter your house) will contain a small number of termites. It will take decades before these few termites can reproduce themselves to create a quantity of termites sufficient to do any damage to your house. As with any medical situation, early detection reduces damage, so periodic checkups are beneficial.

Q Will you also guarantee that there are no adverse effects at all and cancer is of no concern?

A The Vikane gas is produced by Dow Chemical Corporation. You will have to contact them for any guarantee. I can only say that Vikane has been used for 40 years and no one (especially the fumigators) appears to have suffered from working around or living in the wake of Vikane gas.

I want to reiterate that tenting with the use of Vikane gas is the only effective means of ridding your house of dry wood termites. The localized treatments, freezing or microwave, only work if they happen to be directed at the location of all of the termites in the house. That's pretty unlikely.

Lynn Comeskey continues to work with Mac & Lou Construction Co. in Palo Alto. Readers can write Comeskey care of the Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94301.

How deadly is Vikane? (November 28, 2003)

Here is a link to a nice, long technical article from Stanford. 7 pages long:

JAIC 1990, Volume 29, Number 1, Article 5 (pp. 77 to 90)

04-16-2009, 08:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
lktknow Insane Location: here&there	fumigation Our building is being fumigated this coming week, and the company doing the fumigation gave us brochures on the different procedures to follow as far as what to remove from the place and all, but I went in search of some sort of forum, discussing the topic of fumigation, so I could get a bit more insight on the subject. But much to my surprise, I came up with nothing!. I basically wanted to know what the people did, as far as returning to the place being fumigated, and how they felt about the after effects of the gas. The building is being tented, and VIKANE GAS is being used. Has anyone had any experiences with this particular fumigation? They say the gas stays in "pockets" in different things in the house, but they do not expound on it?? LIke for instance CD's, does it mean if I leave the cds, that when I return and open the cds, the gas will escape? this may sound like a dumb question, But?? thank you for any information you will give me. __________________ Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about. ~

04-22-2009, 02:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	Found this: With regard to your August article concerning termites and their disposition, I have the following questions: Q Why is Vikane gas deadly to termites but not harmful to pets, plants and humans? A Your question is not quite correct. Vikane is equally deadly to all of the above. However, pets and humans are not supposed to be inside the house when it is fumigated. Plants that are to be saved should be removed from the house. The fumigators make certain there are no living beings inside the house, then lock it and secure the tarps around the house so that no one or thing can enter before the gas is sent into the house. In order to save plants in the ground that would be enclosed by the fumigators' tarps, water the plants heavily. The water keeps the gas away from the plants' roots and, thereby, saves them. Q Is there really no residue from the gas? Does this mean I don't have to remove food or wash all items in the house after tenting? A There is absolutely no residue and you don't have to wash anything. Q How long is the house poisonous for termites and how long will they keep termites from entering? A Once the fumigating is complete, the fumigator (wearing self-contained breathing apparatus) opens and removes the tarps and starts up blowers to facilitate the dissipation of the gas. The law requires that the fumigator wait six hours after opening the tarps to take air samples to assure that the air inside the house is safe. If this means the fumigator has to come by the next day, then the house is locked (to keep people out) until the samples can be taken. Once the Vikane gas is gone (and there is no residue), the house is no longer harmful to termites, humans or pets. You may rightly say, "you mean that I will have spent all of that money and the termites can return to my house the next day? I don't like that. I understand your concern, but let me tell you about dry wood termite biology. The swarm of dry wood termites (if, as and when they enter your house) will contain a small number of termites. It will take decades before these few termites can reproduce themselves to create a quantity of termites sufficient to do any damage to your house. As with any medical situation, early detection reduces damage, so periodic checkups are beneficial. Q Will you also guarantee that there are no adverse effects at all and cancer is of no concern? A The Vikane gas is produced by Dow Chemical Corporation. You will have to contact them for any guarantee. I can only say that Vikane has been used for 40 years and no one (especially the fumigators) appears to have suffered from working around or living in the wake of Vikane gas. I want to reiterate that tenting with the use of Vikane gas is the only effective means of ridding your house of dry wood termites. The localized treatments, freezing or microwave, only work if they happen to be directed at the location of all of the termites in the house. That's pretty unlikely. Lynn Comeskey continues to work with Mac & Lou Construction Co. in Palo Alto. Readers can write Comeskey care of the Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94301. How deadly is Vikane? (November 28, 2003) Here is a link to a nice, long technical article from Stanford. 7 pages long: JAIC 1990, Volume 29, Number 1, Article 5 (pp. 77 to 90) __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.