This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Solved! The mystery of the miraculous insecticidal chalk


In a message dated 10/22/98 9:28:59 PM, Nan wrote:

>I'd still like to know the hazards of pyrethroids, but at least we now have
>an idea of what we are dealing with.  Anyone have any comments?
>
>Nan

Nan and all,

pyrethrins and -roids are good quick acting contact insecticides but even
though botanically derived should be handled with care. They are certainly NOT
entirely benign in mammals, and are toxic to fish. Don't breath the dusts or
vapors, and avoid skin contact. Some percentage of the population is violently
allergic to them, and anyone with allergic asthma should be quite cautious.
Nevertheless
they are a good alternative to even more toxic possibilities. They are often
the active ingredient in household and garden insecticides and dog/cat flea
sprays. 
It seems to me that this chalk stick form might be a safer application method
than spraying as there presumably is no drift, no mist... I once had to drive
a friend to the ER after we sat down in a movie theater which had been
recently
sprayed with pyrethrin. It was a near thing that she did not die.

Deborah Lindsay
Oakland, Ca.
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index