TOXICS INFORMATION PROJECT (TIP)
Liberty Goodwin, Director
P.O. Box 40572,
Providence, RI 02940
Tel.
401-351-9193, E-Mail: TIP@toxicsinfo.org
Website:
www.toxicsinfo.org
(Lighting the Way to Less Toxic Living)
TERMITICIDE HAZARDS & ALTERNATIVES
Termites? Don’t Panic
It’s a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Termites on the march. Pillaging insects that chew through wood, sight unseen, devouring the very structure of a home. You face thousands of dollars in damage and toxic pest control treatments. Will insurance cover the cost? The following account is a true story by Margie McNally, an interior designer and the ENERGY STAR Homes program Home Health Consultant. Her best advice is this: “Before you jump into a costly and sometimes hazardous remediation plan, consider some less toxic alternatives.”
Margie’s Story
The dreaded termite scenario
occurred last spring as my husband and I began to finish a converted garage
space. Apparently the carpentry disturbed a fairly new nest. We began noticing
winged ant-like insects in the basement and then in the kitchen. Hundreds at a
time would emerge through a crevice in the floor and head for the slider door
swarming and attaching themselves to the screen door. We knew we had a problem
that had to be solved immediately. We
started calling exterminating companies and they confirmed our suspicions.
Subterranean termite infestation.
But how bad was it, and how much
would it cost to rid the house of these intruders? How much time did we have?
As we experienced bugs invading our kitchen without warning, waiting was not an
option. We received estimates of $800, $1200, and $1500 with an additional $300
each year thereafter for five years. These folks were going to become regular
visitors for a long time to come.
But what about the chemicals? What
would they use to treat the infestation? How safe would it be for us, for the
kids? As the swarms came, we used a wet/dry vacuum to eliminate them. We
started looking into remediation options. We chose an exterminator and
requested MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets), much to the surprise of the
contractor. By law, companies are required to supply this documentation upon
request.
When we examined the MSDS it
appeared that Imidacloprid, the active ingredient, was fairly inert and not considered
a carcinogen. However, what about the other ingredients—the additional
additives that the company is not required to disclose, their “proprietary
trade secrets”? One web site for pesticide reform stated that the other
ingredients can be more harmful than the active ingredient. I contacted the
manufacturer and asked what the “inert” ingredients were. The person answering
the phone told me that they were simply detergents. I pushed further, asking
“if I were sensitive to a particular chemical, would I have a problem with this
product?” Someone called me back and confirmed that the additional ingredients
were sodium alumino silicate and naphthalene sulphonate, although they would
not disclose the percentages.
I contacted colleague Jeff May, of
J. May Home Inspections, author of My House is Killing Me. He told me
“naphthalene is not something you want to inject into the interior of your
home.” Furthermore, he said, “people have had to move out of a home because of
this chemical. Silica is also not something you want to be exposed to.” We
began to search for non-toxic alternatives.
Looking at resources, including The
Healthy House by John Bower of the Healthy House Institute, I repeatedly
found recommendations to use borate-based products for subterranean termites.
It took some time, but we finally found a contractor who empathized with our
concerns and was willing to use a less toxic treatment—a borate-based product.
He spent approximately two hours spraying the product into trenches that were
dug around the foundation. He sprayed under the deck and in the basement where
nests and mud tunnels were found. The only noticeable odor was that of wet
wood. The cost? One quarter of the original quote with no need for
follow-up applications. He guaranteed the work, as well. The product is
warranted for five years. It is supposed to be effective for forty years. Four
months have passed since the treatment, with no signs of the pesky intruders.
Integrated Pest Management
By investigating alternatives to
widely-used pesticides, we can introduce fewer toxic substances into our
already over-polluted environment. The EPA calls this common-sense approach
Integrated Pest Management (IPM). With IPM, homeowners and building managers
incorporate preventive measures and use least toxic controls for pest problems
if they do arise.
Practicing IPM can be as simple as
not allowing food in certain areas of a building, or sealing cracks in
foundations and around door and window openings. Creating adequate drainage and
moisture barriers when building a new home are essential components of IPM. A
borate product can be sprayed on wood prophylactically, or a bait system can be
installed for homes without existing infestations. In a bait system
application, stakes are placed in the ground around the perimeter of the home
and monitored regularly. There are no airborne chemicals to be concerned about.
Pest problems? Do a little homework first. Then seek out the least toxic alternatives. Practice integrated pest management and most importantly. . .don’t panic!