Roach Foggers & Their Effects on Humans

Roach foggers also affect humans.

Roach foggers are packaged with hard-to-miss warnings about their toxicity. They contain chemicals, insecticides, that affect humans if inhaled, ingested or applied in any way to the skin or eyes. In short, any contact with the contents is toxic to the human being. To find out how roach fogger chemicals affect humans, you must consider the chemicals and the ways they affect people.

Types of Chemicals

According to the New York State Department of Health, there are three primary classes of chemicals used to kill roaches--carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethrins, also known as pyrethroids. The most common chemicals in the carbamate/organophosphate classes are diazinon, chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos, according to a Natural Resources Defense Council report on insecticides. The Illinois Department of Public Health lists the common pyrethroids as permethrin, resmethrin and sumithrin. All of these chemicals have harmful effects on humans.

Carbamate Insecticide Effects

The New York Department of Health states that 22 of insecticides registered in the United States are from the carbamate category. Carbamates works on roaches by quickly interrupting the nerve chemical cholinesterase. An Oregon State University report on cholinesterase inhibition describes the effect of interrupting this nervous system chemical. Insects and humans share the chemical enzyme needed for key nervous system functions. Thus, inhibiting this chemical can cause problems for humans with muscle function, including twitching, weakness, drooling, cramps, tremors, difficulty walking and breathing. It also causes flu-like symptoms of nausea, dizziness, sweats, vomiting as well as vision problems, diarrhea and frequent urination. Significantly lowered heartbeat and blood pressure are also carbamate effects on humans.

Organophospate Effects

Organophosphates work a lot like carbamate insecticides. They both inhibit cholinesterase to kill the insects and have similar effects on humans. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, 17 organophosphates are registered in the United States. They do not act as fast as carbamate insecticides, but their effects do tend to last longer. Children under the age of 6 are more susceptible to organophosphate poisoning. For this age group, even exposure to a low dose of the chemical can cause serious symptoms.

Pyrethroids

More than 1,000 pyrethroid chemicals are registered in the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, pyrethroids affect humans when inhaled and ingested by changing the membrane that surrounds a nerve. This alters the nerve's ability to function. Symptoms include twitching, difficulty moving and breathing, and dizziness. Some people develop autoimmune conditions of the skin and respiratory system. Frequent and continued use can result in pyrethroid buildup in the body. Excess amounts are like neurotoxins in the body and are fatal.

Warning

Follow all of the safety instructions given when using roach foggers, as they are dangerous to the human body. Avoid inhaling the fogger and getting it inside your mouth as these are the ways to get highest doses of the fogger chemicals. Seek medical attention immediately if you think that you've inhaled or ingested the chemicals.

References

• New York State Department Of Health: Pesticide Poisoning Registry
• Natural Resources Defense Council: Organophosphate and Carbamate Insecticides
• Illinois Department of Public Health: Pyrethroid Insecticides
• Oregon State University: Cholinesterase Inhibition
• Environmental Protection Agency: Pyrethroids