Don't drop the 'bomb' California…

                             Don't drop the 'bomb'
California Department of
  Pesticide Regulation
      10O1 I Street
                             without safety check
      P.O. Box 4015
Sacramento, CA 95812-4015
      916-445-4300           Total release foggers ­ sometimes called "bug   Pest prevention comes first
    www.cdpr.ca.gov          bombs" ­ are pesticide products that fog an     The most effective way to reduce the need for
                             area. These products contain aerosol propel-    pesticides is to use control methods to reduce
        BRANCHES:            lants that quickly release an insecticide fog   or eliminate pest problems. Around the home
                             after you trigger the mechanism. People use     this might include removing sources of food
       Enforcement
       916-324-4100          foggers in their homes to kill cockroaches,     (such as crumbs on the floor, food in open
  Northern Regional Office   fleas, and other pests. Because the aerosol         dishes on the countertop) and water
       916-324-4100          propellants in these foggers typically are              sources (pet dishes, leaky pipes, basins
   Central Regional Office   flammable, improper use of these products                under houseplants). You should also
       559-243-8111
                             could cause a fire or explosion. Following               eliminate places where pests can hide,
  Southern Regional Office
       714-279-7690          simple precautions will help avoid                     and breeding sites (such as litter and
                             problems.                                             plant debris).
Environmental Monitoring
      916-324-4039
                                                                                      Safety precautions
     Fiscal Operations
       916-324-1350                                                                        Foggers are so simple to use
                                                                                              that people sometimes
 Information Technology
                                                                                                 forget they contain
      916-445-4110
                                                                                                  highly flammable
    Medical Toxicology                                                                             materials that can
      916-445-4233
                                                                                                    make these "bug
     Mill Assessment                                                                                bombs" literally into
      916-445-4159                                                                                bombs, if not used
     Pest Management                                                                            properly. Every year in
       and Licensing                                                                             California, bug bombs
       916-445--3914                                                                                explode and catch fire
  Licensing/Certification
                                                                                                          when people
        916-445-4038
                                                                                                              ignore simple
        Personnel                                                                                              precautions.
       916-322-4553
  Pesticide Registration
       916-445-4400

 Worker Health and Safety
      916-445-4222
                             Use no more pesticide than necessary                Turn off ALL ignition sources
                             When people use too many foggers, flammable         Accidents are most likely to happen if large
                             vapors can build up to dangerous levels and         amounts of propellant contact an ignition
                             explode. Read and follow label directions for       source. This can be an open flame, pilot light,
                             the recommended number of fogger aerosol            or a spark from running electrical appliances
                             cans to use. One 6-ounce or 8-ounce fogger is       that cycle on and off, such as refrigerators or
                             enough for apartments and other small               air conditioners. Call your gas utility if you
                             residences. Generally, using no more than one       need assistance with your pilot lights.
                             ounce of product per 1,000 cubic feet of living
                             area should eliminate the chance of fire and        Other important safety measures
                             still be effective. (To calculate the cubic feet,   You should follow these precautions with all
                             multiply the height, width, and length of a         pesticides, including foggers.
                             room, and add the numbers together. For
                             example, an 8-foot by 10-foot by 10-foot room       · Read label instructions before using the
                             has a volume of 800 cubic feet.)                      products, and follow them closely.

      Use no more            Don't use more than one fogger per room.            · Keep the products away from children in a
                             Don't use foggers in small, enclosed places,          locked cabinet or shed.
    than you need.
                             such as closets, cabinets, or under counters or     · Teach children not to touch pesticides and
                             tables. Never use in a room smaller than 5 feet       other household chemicals.
                             by 5 feet. Instead, allow fog to enter from
                             other rooms. Using too many foggers won't           · Keep the telephone number of your area
Turn off pilot lights and
                             control pests better than using only the              Poison Control Center near your telephone.
other ignition sources.      amount recommended on the product label.            · Make sure children, pets, toys, and
                             You will be wasting money and worse, putting          uncovered food are away from areas you
                             yourself, your family, and your home at risk.         are treating.
                             If you think a single fogger won't work well
 Read and follow the         enough, treat your home a second time, or try       · Properly ventilate the area after treatment
                             another, more effective pest control method.          and before reoccupying it.
   label instructions
                             You may also wish to talk to the University of
                                                                                 Questions?
        carefully.           California Cooperative Extension office in your
                             county about how to prevent pest infesta-           If you have questions, call your county
                             tions, and about nonchemical ways to control        agricultural commissioner, who enforces
                             cockroaches, fleas, and other pests. You can        pesticide laws locally. Look for the phone
                             find the phone number in your local phone           number in your local white pages, under
                             book, usually with the local government             county government headings, or on DPR's Web
                             listings.                                           site , where you can also
                                                                                 find more tips and information.




   Single copies of this
   handout are available
      by calling your
    County Agricultural
  Commissioner's office,
        from DPR at
       916-445-3974,
  or can be downloaded
   from DPR's Web site,
     www.cdpr.ca.gov,
 "Consumer Fact Sheets.  "
                                       DPR: A Department of the California Environmental Protection Agency
                                                                                                                  #E04/June03