Total release foggers (aka bug bombs)

One too many! Don’t put yourself or others at risk!

George’s job was to rid a recently vacated apartment unit of fleas, a problem left behind by the previous tenant. Determined to quickly take care of business, George set off six fogger canisters. Foggers — more commonly known as bug bombs — are used to address indoor pests.

As the foggers sprayed their contents, George quickly exited the small apartment, making sure to leave the sliding glass doors and bathroom windows wide open. Meanwhile, Lois, who lived in the apartment below, was entertaining family when chemical smells and foggy material began drifting into her living room. Everyone started coughing. The fog triggered a serious asthma attack for Lois. As she struggled to breathe, Lois’s guests helped her exit the apartment building and made a panicked call to 911. When the paramedics entered the empty apartment to assess the situation, they also began coughing and experienced respiratory problems.

If George had read the label information, he would have known that one fogger canister was enough to treat 5,000 cubic feet, and not to use more than one canister per room. The label also provides help calculating cubic feet of the treatment area.

Too many foggers cause people to become sick and increase the risk of explosion and fire. That day, George put himself and many others at risk!

When you use a pesticide, always read the entire label and follow the directions carefully.

• Don’t use more foggers than necessary.
• Keep foggers away from ignition sources.
• Close outside doors and windows and shut off fans and air conditioners.
• Vacate the treated house or apartment unit immediately.
• Remove pets!
• Notify family members, neighbors, and anyone else that may enter the treated area.
• Air out after returning to the treated area.

Learn how to prevent this situation from happening to you with proper use of foggers and integrated pest management.

The Pesticide Program at Department of Health follows up on hundreds of pesticide illness reports each year. After investigators gather key information on how each case of pesticide exposure happens, the evidence is used to develop illness prevention messages and strategies. This story is based on one such investigation.

Information from pesticide-illness investigations contributed to a recently published study on acute total release fogger-related illnesses. To read the study and learn more, see Acute illness and injuries related to total release foggers — 10 states, 2007–2015