A study by researchers from N.C. State University found that “bug bombs,” known as total release foggers, are ineffective in removing cockroaches from indoor environments.
According to the researchers, the bug-bomb chemicals don’t reach undersides of surfaces and inside cabinets where the roaches stay. Moreover, they leave behind toxic residue on the floors and countertops, areas where the cockroaches tend to avoid.
The researchers “bug bombed” five different apartment complexes with moderate to severe infestation of the common German cockroaches (Blattella germanica). They tried four brands of commercially available bug bombs.
After the bug bomb treatments, the monitored the roach population at two weeks and one month after treatment. They found no decline in roach populations compared to before bug bomb treatment.
“The bug-bomb products did absolutely nothing to control cockroach populations in these homes,” one researcher said.
As a comparison, they used gel baits in another ten homes to combat the roaches present there. After two and four weeks, the gel baits eliminated the roach population in all ten homes.
One nasty leftover by the bug bombs were toxic residue. The researchers found that after 4 to 6 hours of the bug bomb treatment, the average insecticide residue was 600 times higher than normal. Even after one month, the residue was still 34 percent higher than normal.
The researchers made it very clear what the results were:
“Bug bombs are not killing cockroaches; they’re putting pesticides in places where the cockroaches aren’t; they’re not putting pesticides in places where cockroaches are and they’re increasing pesticide levels in the home.”
“In a cost-benefit analysis, you’re getting all costs and no benefits.”
Science Converse Ice Breaker
“Those roach bug bombs don’t work. They don’t kill the roaches and leave insecticides all over your home.”
- Researchers at N.C. State University found bug bombs are useless in getting rid of cockroaches
- They bug bombed five apartment complexes infested with roaches with four brands of bug bombs, and none of them worked
- Instead they left toxic insecticide residue up to 600 times higher after a few hours, and it stuck around for up to one month
- Don’t waste your money on bug bombs if you or someone you know need to get rid of roaches
Reference: “Exposure risks and ineffectiveness of total release foggers (TRFs) used for cockroach control in residential settings” Zachary DeVries, Richard Santangelo, Jonathan Crissman, Russell Mick and Coby Schal, North Carolina State University.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6371-z
over your home. (wiki commons)
