The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) publishes the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) every week. It is mainly used by doctors, public health practitioners, epidemiologists and other scientists. What you read at dinner is not entertainment. Unless you know, you are a nerd like me.
Field records: Acute diseases associated with the use of pest belts-from 2000 to 2013, seven states in the United States and Canada. CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), January 17, 2014/63 (02); 42-43
Strips impregnated with dichlorvos (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate or DDVP pest strips) were first registered by Shell Chemical Company under the trade name Vapona™ in 1954. These pest belts have been used by entomologists, museums and other protectors for museum fumigation for decades.
DDVP is very volatile, so it does an excellent job of diffusion in enclosed spaces. Let me say it again-highly volatile. The vapor from a piece of DDVP will repel and kill insects within 1,200 cubic feet for up to 4 months. The strong smell makes me nostalgic. This is the smell of museum specimens and unopened curious cabinets. This is the smell of old insect collections.
Nerves communicate chemically through gaps or synapses. Organophosphates block transmitters and overstimulate nerve fibers and muscles.
DDVP kills insects well because it is one of the last organophosphate pesticides in the United States that can still be used indoors. Organophosphates can be dangerous, and abuse can cause your back to twitch like a dying cockroach.
Organophosphate kills bugs by preventing nerve cells from turning off stimulus signals. They block acetylcholinesterase, which is present in the nervous system of all animals. Excessive stimulation of nerve cells in this way can lead to tremor, paralysis and death. Fortunately, the amount of DVPP required to kill insects is very small compared to insecticides that cause symptoms in humans.
An important safety element is how to use this pesticide. The CDC report suggests that this is the problem. Between 2000 and 2013, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) fixed-point system reported acute diseases related to the dichlorvos pest zone. The cases seem to be few, but in the words of the lead author of the study, Dr. Rebecca Tsai said: “This is definitely an underestimation of what is happening.” The Sentinel System has only 12 participating US states. In a small subsample of the state, the CDC only knows the cases reported to the state public health department.
Twenty of 31 cases (65%) used DDVP incorrectly and violated instructions and safety labels. As a trained person, if you can only use DDVP with goggles, gloves, and respirators in a closed space, it will be chilling to read the following:
“Most of these diseases are due to the use of products in common residential areas (such as kitchens and bedrooms) that violate the label instructions…. In addition to the use of anti-virus strips in the residential areas, other factors include excessive use, and the use of anti-virus strips Place in a sealed bag for handling infected items, lack of skin protection (for example, gloves or inability to wash the skin immediately), put the strip in the closet and pantry, cut the strip into small pieces and tear it , And use heaters and fans to accelerate the diffusion of vapor in the strip.”
CDC believes that part of the reason for the abuse of DDVP strips is related to packaging confusion. This photo shows two over-the-counter DDVPs that contain products that Americans can buy in most large retail stores:
The first type of packaging is a typical packaging for the main purpose of the compound: for hanging in places where there are no people or for use in sealed compartments. It does have a graphic on the back, which visually shows that it is not intended to be used in living spaces. Or at least not around the TV.
The second software package shows a new usage of DDVP: bug control. Recent studies using DDVP as a bed bug fumigant have shown encouraging results.
The instructions on the DVPP bed bug packaging say that the pest strips in the bag should be sealed with a mattress for a week to ensure that the bed bugs disappear. There are many instructions in small print on the back of the package. “Don’t use it where people stay for a long time” is very vague. How long is “extended”? If you want to make your bed or furniture, you may spend a lot less time than usual in the bedroom.
Bedbugs are clearly the motivation to use DDVP unwisely. After reading and discussing some case reports, I was a little surprised that no serious personal injuries occurred. I agree with the CDC that better packaging and labeling will help ensure that people use DDVP with caution.
If it’s my decision, I will at least put the words “For the love of God, don’t touch this thing” on the package. There should be a way to more clearly show that the compound has a record of nerve damage and is a possible human carcinogen in group B2.
The other part of the label should be changed, that is, stronger instructions, only use the material in a well-ventilated area. The cause of the death of DDVP is the gradual increase in vapor pressure, basically because there is a high concentration of annoying things in the air. You can put the DDVP in a narrow enclosed space-but then you must leave without breathing anything.
In the United States, DDVP can still be purchased over the counter and used at home. Since 2002, DDVP has only been restricted in the EU.
DDVP has been investigated by the EPA for decades. Since studies have shown that DDVP is carcinogenic and neurotoxic, the EPA handed over DDVP to a special review program in 1980. In the next 10 years, DDVP participated in a special review, and almost all uses in food were revoked. In 1995, Amvac, the new owner of the trademark, voluntarily cancelled the use of Vapona in sprayers, aviation applications and food manufacturing. After that, things became a little fuzzy. In 2007, EPA removed DDVP from the special review. Several non-profit organizations, including the American Bird Conservation Association and the Natural Resources Defense Council, have protested. In 2008, the use of DDVP in dog flea collars was voluntarily terminated. Now, some new uses of DDVP are added as bed bug fumigants.
I recently reported on another CDC morbidity and mortality report, which found that hundreds of people were injured due to the abuse of insecticides to control bed bugs. The problem here is twofold.
First, it is sometimes difficult to find good clear information about what can effectively control insects. It does exist-every state’s Department of Health and Extension Services has many scientific publications on the subject. A good example is this series of Spanish, Hmong, Somali and English videos on how to deal with bed bugs. Here is an excellent article on how to use these pest strips safely. Somehow, this information does not communicate it to the people who need it.
This leads me to the second problem: income. If your income is low, you are more likely to encounter pest problems and less likely to afford professional pest control. You may not have a smartphone or computer to access or find available resources. This is why funding for state expansion and outreach and public health services is important to all of us.
Although the CDC reported the problem, it was actually the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) that regulated the sales and labeling of pesticides. Any changes to this report (and previous reports on bed bugs) must be made through EPA. EPA has been advocating new and clearer packaging plans in the past, so it is hoped that they can continue to maintain this general trend.
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