Fumigation is a pest control method that completely fills an area with gaseous pesticides — or fumigants — to suffocate or poison the pests inside. Used to control pests in buildings (structural fumigation), soil, seeds and agricultural products. It is also used in the processing of goods for import or export to prevent the transport of imported goods. This method also affects the structure itself, because it affects organisms that inhabit the natural structure, such as various species of termites.
Procedure
Fumigation generally involves the following phases: First the area to be disinfected is usually covered to create a hermetically sealed environment; then the fumigant is released into the area to be disinfected; space and acts by killing any infestation on the product, then the space is ventilated so that the poisonous gases are allowed to escape from the space and return safely to humans.
Sealed fumigation
Structural fumigation techniques vary from building to building, but in homes a rubber cover is often placed over the entire house, while pesticides are released into the empty house. This process is called tent fumigation (“tenting”). The waterproof cover collects the poisonous gases and prevents them from escaping into the neighborhood. The process can take up to a week depending on the fumigant used, which in turn depends on the severity of the infestation and the size of the building.
Chemically
Bromomethane was among the most widely used fumigants until its production and use was limited by the Montreal Protocol due to its role in the ozone hole. Widely used fumigants include:
- Phosphine
- 1,3-dichloropropene
- Chloropicrin
- Methyl isocyanate
- Hydrogen cyanide
- Sulfuryl fluoride
- Methanal
- Iodoformio
Safety
Smoking is a dangerous job. In general, it is essential that the person performing the fumigation job has a formal certificate of completion of this procedure, because the chemicals used are toxic to most life forms, including humans. Ventilation after work is a critical aspect of fumigation. It is important to distinguish between the source of the fumigant gas and the fumigated environment. While the fumigator may be safe and exhausted, the room will still hold the fumigator gas until it is ventilated.