Nigeria like other African country has a long list of fumigation chemicals that mostly banned in other countries. Fumigation is spraying of dangerous chemicals to kill pests such as cockroaches, bugs, termites, rats, etc.
These fumigation chemicals have similar compounds to Chemicals Found in Pesticides. Moreover, it also poses the same threads just as Harmful Effects of Chemical Pesticides on Human Health and also the environment.
Fumigation in Nigeria
Fumigation is the process of removing unwanted pests from an environment. In Nigeria, fumigation is a common pesticide to kill insects, termites, ants, and rodents. It covers pesticides and herbicide at the same time. Generally, fumigation involves using lethal chemicals to suffocate or kill the unwanted pests. Here are some of the fumigation chemicals in Nigeria
1. Chloropicrin
This liquid form of fumigation chemicals is difficult to vaporize at ordinary temperatures. Moreover, it is in a List of Chemicals that Can Go Down The Drains. In terms of flour and mill fumigation, it creates a deadly substance. This chemical is also included the List Toxic Chemicals Severely Restricted Import Export.
Caution
This substance alone can pose danger. Moreover, if it is mixed with methyl bromide or methyl chloride in a cylinder it can increase the level of exposure and last longer.
2. DDVP
It is a kind of pesticides that have been banned by WHO, NAFDAC and many countries around the world. DDVP or 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate gives a fast result. Therefore, Nigerians prefer to use it due to its efficiency. it is effective at very low concentrations against houseflies, mosquitoes, and mushroom flies. Moreover, higher dose is effective against cockroaches and a wide range of stored product insects.
Caution
This chemical provides fast result because it is very toxic chemical which reacts very easily with the lungs and kidney. Moreover, by inhaling people can experience mild to serious symptoms. The more reason for Why Should an Individual Working with Chemicals Understand the hazard.
3. Carbon Disulphide
This substance is among the first chemical in the fumigation filed of work. There are many uses of Uses of Carbon Compounds Related yo their properties. One of them includes as fumigation chemicals that effectively kill an unwanted pest.
Caution
The tasteless chemical can cause severe illness for people exposed to it. Moreover, if there long exposure patient and not being treated accordingly then it can cause respiration issues and other dangerous side effects.
4. Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)
Types of cyanide, show how diverse and harmful they might be in the futures. Very effective yet harmful fumigation chemicals are one of them. This substance also goes by another name, prussic acid due to a chemical formula HCN. Moreover, it has a pale blue color and at room temperature, it is colorless liquid, at a high temperature.
Caution
The most dangerous form of cyanide due to its highly toxic and flammable. Extreme caution is important if it is around anything that can cause a fire. It is a well-known ingredient in polymers, fumigation and also chemicals weapon.
5. Methyl Bromide
the more important fumigants List of Chemicals in Herbicides. and condensed information. This substance also among the many chemicals in List Toxic Chemicals Severely Restricted Import Export. Fumigation chemicals mixes are very strict and need the support of a suitable organization.
Caution
The effect of methyl bromide on humans, mammals, and environment vary according to the intensity of exposure. It shows symptoms such as neurological symptoms and even death through pulmonary injury and associated circulatory failure.
6. Phosphine
This substance is the most commonly used fumigants for the treatment of stored grain and similar commodities. List Banned Chemicals contain some of the toxic side effects compared to other fumigation chemicals.
Caution
Phosphine is very toxic to animal and human. Poisoning can happen from ingestion. However, the gas is not easily absorbed through the skin. Moreover, it ranks as one of the most toxic fumigants of insect fumigation chemicals.
7. Methyl bromide-phosphine
A method to combined methyl bromide and phosphine for treatments in oil-seed expeller. Phosphine can diffuse into the expeller to give control while methyl bromide is effective on the outer surfaces. Furthermore, mixtures both of these ingredients have been shown to have a joint action that improves the fumigation chemicals effectiveness.
Caution
A combination of two highly toxic chemicals means double the caution and warning. People handling it need to make sure they didn’t expose themselves by skin contact, inhale or swollen. It can cause dizziness, nausea, lung issue, nerve systems problems and even paralyzed or death.
8. Sulphuryl fluoride
An effective fumigant agent for controlling dry wood termites. This gas form fumigation chemical penetrates qualities which permit it to infiltrate termite tunnels and crevices and destroy the insects. Moreover, it is odorless and acts as a warning agent.
Caution
This substance is highly toxic to humans with few incidents of poisoning. However, this might be due to the fact that sulphuryl fluoride aerates very rapidly from fumigated buildings. Therefore, it spreads through inhalation.
9. Minor fumigants
Besides the major fumigation chemicals more above, there are a few compounds that have a strict use at present.
- Acetaldehyde is a natural compound that is toxic to insects, certain fungi, bacteria, and yeasts. it is less toxic than other fumigation chemicals. It causes irritation to the eyes and mucous membranes and a suspect of carcinogenic activity in humans.
- Azobenzene, a crystalline solid chemical to control of mites in greenhouses. It is an effective pest killer but some case also shows flower development issues or changing colors.
- Chloroform is not highly toxic but shows promise as a constituent of liquid-type fumigants. However, it bears the mark of suspect cancer induce substance.
There you have it, some fumigation chemicals in Nigeria that highlight some of the harmful substance that required the right kind of handling. Overall, fumigation chemicals are toxic because their purpose is to kill the unwanted pest. There are Harmful Effects of Using Chemical Fertilizers And Pesticides either for human, animal or the environment.