In this article, you’ll learn what termite treatment’s chemical side effects are and what you can do about them.
Chemicals used for termite control may effectively eliminate these pests but have many downsides.
Termite Treatment Health Risks
These side effects are primarily health-related and could trigger certain conditions that may be life-threatening. Safety should come before all else, so safety protocols or procedures are followed.
No matter how careful you are, there’s still a chance of exposure to harmful chemicals. Termite treatment chemicals are highly toxic and could cause many health issues you don’t want to deal with.
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Humans and Animals are Vulnerable
Both humans and animals (pets) are vulnerable when it comes to side effects associated with termite treatment chemicals, both humans and animals (pets) are vulnerable. There’s likely to be a side effect if there’s some exposure.
Some of these side effects may be similar, while others may differ.
It’s also vital to note that side effects may vary from person to person. In other words, not everyone has the same reaction to termiticide exposure.
Persons with susceptible immune systems are likely to display more of these side effects than those with less sensitive systems.
There are also side effects displayed by high-risk people, such as the elderly and persons still recovering from illnesses whose immune systems are still weak from fighting diseases.
You will discuss each of these categories to understand better what’s involved.
How Termiticide Exposure Occurs
There are different ways by which exposure to termite treatment chemicals occur.
In the basic sense, simply being present around the area with no protection or covering will cause the inhalation of a significant amount of unhealthy dose of the toxic termiticide.
Now, each termiticide product you buy has a set of safety instructions that stipulate concrete safety actions to protect from toxicity.
When these instructions aren’t followed, you get exposed in multiple ways. There’s inhalation exposure, dermal exposure, and oral exposure.
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Inhalation Exposure to Termite Treatment Chemicals
When it comes to inhalation exposure, the name alone gives an idea of what goes on here.
It simply means breathing in unsafe amounts of termite treatment chemicals. These termiticides may be in dust form, vapor form, or aerosol.
Whichever form it is, breathing in such toxic chemicals is highly risky and could set up a chain of reactions in your body that puts you at significant risk. All forms of treatment chemicals mentioned can easily be inhaled.
Most product instructions will advise you wear an appropriate mask to keep from inhaling the product.
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Dermal Exposure to Termite Treatment Chemicals
As the name suggests, dermal exposure involves termite treatment chemicals getting through the skin.
Also, such toxic pesticides can get into your body through the eyes. This requires adequate covering, such as wearing a long-sleeved protective suit during fumigation.
Also, specially designed safety goggles will need to be worn. Other parts of your body that will need to be covered include your feet and hands. Here, safety boots and gloves will fit such a purpose.
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Oral Exposure to Termite Treatment Chemicals
Termite treatment chemicals can get into your digestive tract through your mouth. Unlike the other methods, you may ingest toxic chemicals through contaminated food or water.
A wide range of side effects may result, which could sometimes be fatal. You’ll have to be extra cautious with the things you consume.
Termite Treatment Chemical Side Effects on Pets
We said earlier that you might experience different side effects based on the chemicals exposed.
To give you an idea of these side effects, your dog, cat, or other pet could display many conditions. These include diarrhea, seizures, and weakness.
Other side effects on pets include loss of coordination, depression, difficulty breathing, and muscle tremors. There may also be an increased rate of salivation, fever, vomiting, reduced appetite, and increased heart rate.
You’ll have to take your pet to the veterinarian for urgent medical attention.
Termite Treatment Chemical Side Effects on Humans
Remember, we said humans display varying side effects due to termiticide exposure.
For most people, side effects from such exposure include blurred vision, nausea, eye-watering and irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea.
You may also experience skin irritation, stomach cramps, mouth irritation, headache, sore throat, dizziness, and chest pain. These conditions may worsen when the exposure is much.
Termite Fumigation Side Effects
While fumigation is highly effective in killing various pests, including termites, it poses health risks that can be deadly when not properly applied.
It has been found that prolonged exposure to termite treatment chemicals or any other pesticide could cause more severe side effects.
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The Effects of Termite Fumigation go beyond Humans.
Although most of the side effects of fumigation are focused on humans, it does much more damage.
This is seen in its side effects on animals, vegetation, and the environment. Most termite companies will tell you about fumigation safety when done correctly.
There’s truth to such assurance. However, there are times when people get too careless by handling certain chemicals designed for professional use.
DIY’ers are the most guilty of this. Without following basic use instructions, such persons expose themselves to unsafe and sometimes lethal doses.
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Avoid DIY Termite Fumigation
To avoid the harmful side effects of termite fumigant use, it’s best to ditch your plans to perform a DIY treatment.
This method exposes you to a lot of risks that could end up causing more harm than anticipated. The pros are trained in safely handling toxic fumigants while you’re not.
By calling the pros, you save yourself the stress of figuring out what’s safe. Also, trained and licensed pest technicians observe detailed safety guidelines and checks to ensure humans and pets are safe.
Treatment is also done in a way that limits environmental impact.
Termite Fumigation Health Risks
Such side effects include respiratory disorders, skin conditions, cancer, organ failure, sterility & infertility, brain damage, and congenital disabilities.
Exposure to excessive fumigant gases could lead to many health conditions, including death. With that said, what are the side effects of termite fumigation?
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Respiratory Disorders
When individuals continuously expose themselves to termiticides, they’re likely to experience many respiratory disorders. Such include chronic bronchitis, difficulty breathing, and asthma, among others.
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Skin Conditions
Continuous dermal exposure to termite treatment chemicals may result in infections, cutaneous toxicity, rashes, etc.
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Cancer
Cancer is one terminal disease that can be a side effect of significant termite treatment chemicals exposure. Different types of cancer conditions could develop.
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Organ Failure
Body organs are likely to fail due to prolonged exposure to termiticides. You’ll need to reduce your exposure rate to harmful chemicals to prevent this from happening.
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Sterility & Infertility
Some studies have made direct correlations between pesticide exposure and infertility and sterility. More research is being done to understand the connection further.
Common Termite Treatment Chemicals whose Exposure can Cause the above Side Effects
It’s important to mention some of these termiticides known for causing the effects above. Note that those not mentioned here will still cause similar side effects.
Popular termiticides include borates, cyclodienes, chlorpyrifos, lindane, and pentachlorophenol.
Safety Measures to Limit Fumigation Side Effects
After the termite treatment process is completed, it’s necessary to adopt all kinds of safety procedures to limit exposure to fumigants.
First off, follow every instruction given by our technician to keep safe. It would help if you avoided treated areas until thoroughly dried. Next, you must wash all pet food and water bowls before use.
It would help if you opened all windows and doors to aerate the area thoroughly. Also, turn on the fan to aid with ventilation. Cleaning should only be done when instructed by the technician.
It would be best to dispose of all contaminated consumables, especially those you forgot to put away. Have your treatment tag stored in a safe place for future use.
As discussed above, these are common termite fumigation side effects experienced by humans, animals, vegetation, and the environment.
You’ll need urgent medical attention to address any of these side effects.
Conclusion
These are side effects associated with termite treatment chemicals. You’ll have to avoid exposure as this is the common cause of most side effects.
The best way to protect yourself is by following the use and safety instructions on the product labels.