Talk:Fumigation

Toxic?

The title sentence states that fumigants are not toxic if used properly, but the article later states that most fumigants are highly toxic to people. What's up? Isopropyl 00:42, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

All mentioned fumigants (especially phosphine and hydrogen cyanide, but also others) are highly toxic for human upon inhalation; the statement, that they "are not toxic if used properly" reflects, that spaces and goods being fumigated and than well ventilated (the final ventilation and removal of the fumigant are a part of proper use of fumigants), pose no risk of poisoning to man entering these spaces or working/consuming goods.

An exception are foods, they can be fumigated only with nonpersistent phosphine gas (traces of PH₃ are detoxified to nontoxic phosphate upon prolonged exposure to atmospheric oxygen), not e.g. by hydrogen cyanide, which could be captured in foodstuff or react with trace alcalis to highly toxic cyanides. For the same reason, dichloropropene and chloropicrin are not allowed to fumigation of foods.--Spiperon 00:46, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

To say they are not toxic if used properly is misleading, it would be more accurate to say that they leave no toxic residue, or possibly no residue. Sulfuryl Flouride also has some limited use in fumigating foodstuffs, although fluoride residues are a a cause of concern to some Maccheek 14:40, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

The chemicals are highly toxic when inhaled into the body Collins6461 (talk) 11:04, 28 November 2019 (UTC)

Toxicant free (physical) fumigation

There is an alternative procedure to the toxicant fumigation, which consists of treatment of the goods (clothes, bulk material, foodstuffs, pharmaceutical products, and the like) in a gas- and pressure-proof chambers, using an inert gas (mainly nitrogen and carbon dioxide) applied after full evacuation of the chamber, under overpressure and possibly, under elevated temperature; this method effectivelly kills insects, and eventually rodents, without applying any toxic chemicals (it is based on physical asphyxiation of the vermin, by excluding oxygen from the air), so its particullary useful for treating foods and pharmaceutical goods, and is used increasingly nowadays. I think it should be mentioned in the article.--Spiperon 22:25, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Fumigation is also a term referring to a method in soil science and terrestrial ecology, by means of which microbial nitrogen is investigated. This should be added to the article, I think. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.160.138.76 (talk) 20:16, 31 March 2011 (UTC)

Gassed containers

Is there a reason why nothing is mentioned about gassed containers and gas measurements a the place of destination? E-pen (talk) 08:40, 25 April 2014 (UTC)

Assessment comment

The comment(s) below were originally left at Talk:Fumigation/Comments, and are posted here for posterity. Following several discussions in past years, these subpages are now deprecated. The comments may be irrelevant or outdated; if so, please feel free to remove this section.

Needs a rewrite that sounds less like how to and more encyclopedic. The lead in is too long - could be turned into a clearer leadin followiwed by other sections pertaining to types, use etc.

Last edited at 02:27, 22 December 2008 (UTC). Substituted at 19:58, 1 May 2016 (UTC)

Archaic practie of fumigating to prevent/cure infection disease?

Apparently the term used to be used for a medical practice, no longer considered effective, of preventing or curing infectious disease. Deerbrook by Harriet Martineau (1839):

But, Hester, do you happen to have heard your husband say what sort of fumigation he would recommend in case of such a fever as this showing itself in the house?"

"Indeed I have not heard him speak of fumigations at all. Have you, Margaret?"

"I should just like to know; for Mrs Jones told me of a very good one; and Mrs Howell thinks ill of it. Mrs Jones recommended me to pour some sulphuric acid upon salt--common salt--in a saucer; but Mrs Howell says there is nothing half so good as hot vinegar."

"Somebody has come and put up a stall," said Sophia, "where he sells fumigating powders, and some pills, which he says are an infallible remedy against the fever."

--Jim Henry (talk) 21:44, 14 January 2017 (UTC)

Hotel photo and caption

The caption notes that the fumes have spread "even to the lobby of this hotel." So? Is the lobby being fumigated? Is that unusual specifically for hotels? More context and a re-wording of the caption would be great — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.127.253.218 (talk) 06:46, 28 February 2020 (UTC)

What is post fumigation?

Make an article related to post fumigation.. Means that what should we do after the fumigation of that area? 39.36.201.50 (talk) 02:56, 9 December 2021 (UTC)

Fumigation

Fumigation is a method of pest control or the removal of harmful micro-organisms by completely filling an area with gaseous pesticides—or fumigants—to suffocate or poison the pests within. It is used to control pests in buildings (structural fumigation), soil, grain, and produce. Fumigation is also used during the processing of goods for import or export to prevent the transfer of exotic organisms. Structural fumigation targets pests inside buildings (usually residences), including pests that inhabit the physical structure itself, such as woodborers and drywood termites. Commodity fumigation, on the other hand, is also to be conducted inside a physical structure, such as a storage unit, but it aims to eliminate pests from infesting physical goods, usually food products, by killing pests within the container which will house them. Each fumigation lasts for a certain duration. This is because after spraying the pesticides, or fumigants, only the pests around are eradicated.[1] 2405:201:C409:3879:2915:C522:5BF1:63AD (talk) 14:42, 25 November 2022 (UTC)