Is Thermal Fogging Dangerous To Humans – Thermal fogging is the process by which ultra-fine droplets between the ranges of 1-50 sqm are generated with the help of thermopneumatic energy.
Thermal Fogging is used in pest control activities that help you manage the pest attack. As the name itself suggests, a thermal fogger is a device that is used to fight pest problems.
There are mainly 3 types of thermal foggers: electric foggers, fuel foggers, and propane foggers. The thermal fogging device uses heat so that the fogging solution gets vaporized.
The cloud of fog created by the fogging device can penetrate areas that are not easily accessible such as treetops, grass, shrubbery, etc. Thermal fogging devices are most commonly used for pest control.
Many health professionals and experts have noted in the past that the insecticide that is used in thermal fogging is the same chemical that is used in the domestic insect spray cans that is considered safe for the health of humans.
However, there are some reactions that are known to have been adverse to human health. Continue reading the article to know whether thermal fogging is dangerous to humans or not.
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Thermal Fogging is one of the common pest control methods in Singapore and has some dangerous reactions to human health.
Some of them include exacerbation of asthma, nausea, congestion, sneezing, tremors, convulsions, headaches, and prickling, burning, and itching skin sensations.
Pesticides and other chemicals in thermal fogging cause severe bronchitis and asthma. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals can lead to swelling of the corneas.
These are also harmful to small children, old people, and pregnant women. Ophthalmologists have noted that these chemicals can cause eye and skin irritation.
Some thermal fogging device solutions contain diesel to serve as carriers for the insecticides. As a result, the component of the solution that turns to fog becomes soluble in human fat.
The droplets of the fog are extremely small and can be easily absorbed into the human body. We know how toxic diesel is, and the concoction of pesticide and diesel becomes potentially carcinogenic in the long term.
This accumulation has been known to affect blood clotting in the body and also known to damage the kidneys.
The chemicals used in the pesticides and insecticides of thermal fogging are generally neurotoxins. Neurotoxins lead to adverse effects on human health.
Most of the chemicals used in these fogging devices were used as nerve gasses during the time of wars.
If a person is exposed to neurotoxins even in low quantities, they may experience respiratory problems, headaches, nausea, and numbness of lips and tongue.
As mentioned earlier, diesel is served as carriers to these pesticides in thermal fogging devices. Diesel is known to be carcinogenic in nature.
World Health Organisation has also declared Malathion, a class III pesticide to be slightly hazardous.
Pesticides are not only inhaled by humans but they also get absorbed in the water and soil of the area in which they are sprayed and become harmful in the long run.
The practice of thermal fogging is accepted in many places all over the world. In most places, it is done on a routine basis at least once a month.
Many notable healthcare professionals have claimed that thermal fogging is ineffective in controlling pests such as mosquitoes. According to them, fogging only contains the adult mosquito and not the larvae of the mosquito.
For every adult mosquito that is killed, a lot of larvae remain in the water unaffected. Thus, it is more effective to reduce the number of larvae.
Some environmentalists have added on to it saying the fogging also harms and kills small mammals like mice and insects like bees that are beneficial for the environment.
Fogging is also considered toxic to birds and to animals like cats.
These pesticides also harm animals and creatures that are the natural predators of mosquitoes.
Fishes help in the eradication of mosquito larvae as larvae thrive in water, however, most of these insecticides used in the process of thermal fogging are toxic to fishes too.
These fishes are consumed by humans and in turn are harmful to human health. Other animals such as geckos and frogs are also affected by fogging solutions.
Healthcare experts and government authorities should focus on preventive measures that are long term and focus less on fogging. There should be systematic procedures in which the surroundings are cleaned judiciously.
There are various long term as well as short term adverse effects of insecticides and pesticides and these cannot be ignored at the cost of the health of so many people.
