are mothballs harmful
Cats are more sensitive to the toxic effects of mothballs, but dogs are more likely to ingest mothballs. Naphthalene mothballs, or old-fashioned mothballs, are considered the most toxic type of mothball. Modern PDB mothballs are less toxic but still can cause illness, especially when ingested. Clinical signs of mothball poisoning include vomiting, mothball-scented breath, pale or brown gums, weakness or lethargy, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, and organ failure (e.g., liver, kidneys). Share. Mothballs are pesticides that slowly release a gas vapor to kill and repel moths (and their larvae) and other insects. Mothballs are also used to repel snakes, mice, and other animals, though this use is not recommended and can be harmful to pets, children, and the environment. Problems for Pets. Mothballs are harmful to both cats and dogs -- and not just when the pets ingest them. The chemicals in mothballs may affect your pet through skin contact or through inhalation of fumes, as well as through the stomach and intestines. Some moths are notorious for their ability to impersonate other animals. To avoid being eaten, some moths have evolved to look like less palatable insects, such as wasps, tarantulas and the praying mantis. Some moths even mimic bird droppings. 3. Moths are important pollinators. Health Effects of Mothballs. Mothballs are nearly 100% active ingredient, and the active ingredient may be either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Each active ingredient can cause different health effects if the exposure is high enough. Mothballs slowly turn from solids to toxic vapor. When you smell mothballs, you are inhaling the insecticide. Mothballs can also be dangerous if they are chewed or eaten. Children, pets and wildlife may mistake them for food or candy and eat them. One mothball can cause serious harm if eaten by a small child. In some parts of the world, moths are a major food source for people, too. More than 90 percent of people in some African countries eat moth and butterfly caterpillars, according to a 2004 survey by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Mothballs are labeled for control of clothes moths only. The labels generally instruct you to place them in an airtight container with at-risk clothing. Naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene are fumigants, vaporizing at room temperature -- the toxic fumes smother the clothes moths which are unable to get away. Because the active ingredients in mothballs are insecticides, it is not only dangerous, it's illegal to use them in any way not specified on the label. 1. There are more than 11,000 species of moths in the U.S. alone. Moths outnumber butterflies, their nearest relative, by more than 10 to 1, said Matthew Shepherd, communications director and senior conservation associate at the Xerces Society, a nonprofit organization focused on insect conservation in Portland, Ore. 4. Many adult moths don't eat. While some moths suck nectar, others don't eat at all. The adult Luna moth, for instance, doesn't even have a mouth. After it emerges from its cocoon, it lives for about a week. Mothballs are deeply ingrained in garden folklore as an extremely effective pest repellent in the garden and within structures. Sadly, the active ingredients in mothballs, naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene, are not effective against noxious pests and may harm children and pets if they eat the mothballs. They can be dangerous in the soil, as well, causing long-term damage to your garden.
Yes