In
an effort to rid their homes of bed bug infestations, some people may be
putting their health at risk.
Some consumers are
applying pesticides inappropriately, using pesticides not approved for
indoor use or those that are legally banned, according to a health
advisory issued by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Those chemicals are dangerous and can be fatal, causing symptoms such as
headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, muscle tremors, chest
tightness, heart palpitations and other symptoms of pesticide poisoning.
The National Pesticide
Information Center reported that one person died and 129 had mild to
serious health effects after incorrect bed bug pesticide use from 2006
to 2010. The agency noted that even appropriate indoor pesticides can
cause symptoms if overapplied or not used according to the instructions
on the product label.
When it comes to treating
homes for bed bugs, Rosmarie Kelly, Ph.D., public health entomologist
for the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), recommended leaving
pest control to professional, licensed pest control companies.
"We never, ever, ever
promote individual homeowners to use pesticides because inevitably, they
use them incorrectly, which creates the potential for negative health
effects," she said. "Pest control companies are trained in the proper
way to deal with bed bug infestations."
Kelly noted that
do-it-yourself products, even those labeled as "bed bug control," will
not kill bed bugs effectively. In some areas of the country, bed bugs
have even become resistant to common pesticides. Instead, an exhaustive
regimen of removal and cleaning of infested beds, bedding and other
sites combined with follow-up detection programs is the only way to
ensure that treatments are effective. Professional pest control
companies should provide customers with information on the treatment
process.
But for people who choose
to take on bed bug infestation treatment themselves, ATSDR urges them to
take some safety precautions. Homeowners and pesticide applicators
should never use outdoor pesticides indoors. Consumers should check
pesticide labels to make sure that they have an EPA registration number,
that the product is intended for indoor use and that it is intended to
treat a home for bed bugs. Pesticide labels should also give information
on how to properly mix the product and where and how to apply it safely.
The U.S. is one of
several countries that have experienced a surge in the bed bug
population and Georgia is no exception. The pests are not known to
transmit diseases, but their bites can cause allergic reactions in
people who are susceptible.
Preventing an infestation
requires vigilance, but the EPA offers a few tips:
- Check secondhand furniture, beds and couches for any signs of
infestation before bringing them home; better yet, avoid dumpster
diving for clothes and furnishings completely, Kelly said.
- Use a protective cover to encase mattresses and box springs, and
check the covers regularly for holes.
- Reduce clutter to cut down on hiding places for bed bugs.
- When traveling and staying in hotels, use luggage racks to hold
your luggage--don't place it on the bed or floor; check the
mattresses and headboard for bed bugs before sleeping; upon
returning home, unpack directly into a washing machine and inspect
your luggage carefully.
To find a licensed
commercial pesticide applicator, visit the
Georgia Department of Agriculture's website.
DPH's online
Bed Bug Handbook
has information about bed bug inspection, treatment and control.
-Story by Carrie
Gann, DPH Communications
