Case History: PESIICIDES (METHYLBROMIDE) - TERlMITE INSECTICIDE)

By: Bob Zitnn Location: Hollywood, Florida, USA. Date: September 1989

Methlbromlde is a pesticide used to kill termites. If it is not used properly it can sometimes react with foam rubber to produce a very foul odor that is almost impossible to describe, but would be quite recognizable to a termite exterminator such as Bob Zitrin. It is pertinent to point out that foam rubber is commonly found in many parts of a normal house and would include such items as the floor m atting under carpets, in beds, chairs, couches, etc. Thus, if this pesticide should react with these materials the odors are very difficult to eliminate. Apparently this was the situation that occurred in a house of about 1,500 quare feet in Hollywood, Florida. The exterminating company that was responsible for this problem paid the expenses of the woma n who owned the house, to live in a motel for several days until the odors were removed.

It was at that time that this same exterminating company called Bob Zitrin to solve this odor problem. During the time that Bob was deodorizing this woman's house she went to visit her sister in another state. When she arrived at her sister's house it became apparent that all of her clothes reeked of this odor. It was necessary for them to wash her clothes four to five times before the odors were removed from them. It's a shame that she did not have any NonScents pow der for her laundrywhich would have probably removed the odors much easier.

The NonScents product was applied in the house in the following manner: 4 cans of powder were sprinkled on the rug, chairs, couch, etc. The house did not have central air conditioning, but had two window air conditioners. One cap (2 lb. bag) was put on the supply air vent on each air conditioner. The air conditioners were then left on to circulate air through the house for three days. After three days the odor was for all practical purposes gone. Bob did a follow up on this case shortly afterward and the woman was satisfied that the odor problem had been resolved. He left her two caps to pick up any lingering odors.