Several precautions have to be taken while using fumigants and pesticides.
Earlier this month, there was an uproar on social media websites like Twitter and Facebook over the avoidable deaths of Rameez and Rehab Chougle from Mumbai, who succumbed to pesticide poisoning after pest control was done in their home.
Metrolife talks to pest control services in the City to understand whether a similar
incident could occur in Bangalore.
"The World Health Organization (WHO) has a pesticide evaluation scheme, which recommends certain chemicals to be used in treating specific pests in sensitive places like homes and public spaces. If those guidelines are followed, there should be no impact to human health," says Arun Kumar, the proprietor of Creative Pest Control.
The Chougle deaths were caused by the alleged use of aluminium phosphide, a fumigant used in farms.
"We never use fumigants to treat any kind of pest, especially not in residential pest management. They are only procured for fumigation of food grains and export
containers after getting a lot of government permission. I have never heard of such
poisoning cases in Bangalore," adds Arun.
Most pest control agencies in Bangalore seem to be well prepared with all the required safety measures in place.
"We ensure that our customers vacate the space and remove all food items from the area being disinfected as a preventive measure," says Hareendran N from Greenland Pest Control.
"Other than the customer safety, our own operators are also equipped with masks, goggles, gloves and other things needed to prevent catching any infection," he explains further.
In the Chougle case, an arrest was made over using excessive chemicals without a proper licence and the technical expertise to carry out the activity.
"We are a licenced pest control operator with a good reputation and we never use local chemicals which are not approved by governing agencies," says Sathya Balan, from Varna Pest Control.
From a scientific perspective, it is impossible to kill pests without the use of certain prescribed chemicals.
"What a pesticide service provider uses comes with a set of precautions to be observed by the service provider as well as the service users.
All pesticides, mostly synthetic, can be toxic if the precautions are ignored by either party," says C Kameswara Rao, the executive secretary of the Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness & Education.
"Pesticide poisoning is usually due to mismanagement and this is not to say that they are not hazardous — but they are safe when used appropriately. Most substances we consume can be toxic if dosage and concentration criteria are ignored," he adds.
While pest control companies have to defend their industry, one must try and reduce their use as much as possible.
Natural alternatives for pest control are easily available. Wiping the entire kitchen with kerosene on a monthly basis gets rid of ants, keeping empty egg shells in nooks and corners keeps lizards at bay and burning a few balls of camphor in one's house helps kill
mosquitoes and fleas. As a wise man once said, better safe than sorry!
Earlier this month, there was an uproar on social media websites like Twitter and Facebook over the avoidable deaths of Rameez and Rehab Chougle from Mumbai, who succumbed to pesticide poisoning after pest control was done in their home.
Metrolife talks to pest control services in the City to understand whether a similar
incident could occur in Bangalore.
"The World Health Organization (WHO) has a pesticide evaluation scheme, which recommends certain chemicals to be used in treating specific pests in sensitive places like homes and public spaces. If those guidelines are followed, there should be no impact to human health," says Arun Kumar, the proprietor of Creative Pest Control.
The Chougle deaths were caused by the alleged use of aluminium phosphide, a fumigant used in farms.
"We never use fumigants to treat any kind of pest, especially not in residential pest management. They are only procured for fumigation of food grains and export
containers after getting a lot of government permission. I have never heard of such
poisoning cases in Bangalore," adds Arun.
Most pest control agencies in Bangalore seem to be well prepared with all the required safety measures in place.
"We ensure that our customers vacate the space and remove all food items from the area being disinfected as a preventive measure," says Hareendran N from Greenland Pest Control.
"Other than the customer safety, our own operators are also equipped with masks, goggles, gloves and other things needed to prevent catching any infection," he explains further.
In the Chougle case, an arrest was made over using excessive chemicals without a proper licence and the technical expertise to carry out the activity.
"We are a licenced pest control operator with a good reputation and we never use local chemicals which are not approved by governing agencies," says Sathya Balan, from Varna Pest Control.
From a scientific perspective, it is impossible to kill pests without the use of certain prescribed chemicals.
"What a pesticide service provider uses comes with a set of precautions to be observed by the service provider as well as the service users.
All pesticides, mostly synthetic, can be toxic if the precautions are ignored by either party," says C Kameswara Rao, the executive secretary of the Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness & Education.
"Pesticide poisoning is usually due to mismanagement and this is not to say that they are not hazardous — but they are safe when used appropriately. Most substances we consume can be toxic if dosage and concentration criteria are ignored," he adds.
While pest control companies have to defend their industry, one must try and reduce their use as much as possible.
Natural alternatives for pest control are easily available. Wiping the entire kitchen with kerosene on a monthly basis gets rid of ants, keeping empty egg shells in nooks and corners keeps lizards at bay and burning a few balls of camphor in one's house helps kill
mosquitoes and fleas. As a wise man once said, better safe than sorry!