FL Fumigation flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

CT product

The product of fumigant concentration and exposure time (C × T), used to express and compare fumigation efficacy; a target CT must be achieved for the most tolerant pest life stage present.

Vapor density and stratification

Gases heavier than air, such as sulfuryl fluoride and methyl bromide, sink and accumulate in basements, crawlspaces, and low voids, so monitoring and ventilation points must include the lowest spaces.

Phosphine flammability threshold

Phosphine can ignite spontaneously at concentrations above about 1.8 percent by volume in air, so it must never be confined in unvented containers or allowed to accumulate in closed spaces.

Odor is not a warning

Methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride are essentially odorless and cause olfactory fatigue; only calibrated detectors or colorimetric tubes can confirm safe or effective concentrations.

Chloropicrin warning agent

A lacrimatory compound added to some fumigants so its tear-gas effect warns of exposure; it is itself toxic and irritating and does not replace gas monitoring.

SDS Section 8 exposure limits

Section 8 lists occupational exposure limits such as OSHA PELs and ACGIH TLVs, for example methyl bromide at 20 ppm TWA and sulfuryl fluoride at 5 ppm TWA.

Label as law

Under FIFRA, the registered label is legally binding; applying a fumigant at a rate, site, or method not permitted by the label is a violation regardless of intent.

Fumigation notice posting

A warning notice stating the fumigant, applicator firm, date, and a 24-hour contact must be posted at every entrance before gas is introduced and left until clearance is confirmed.

Fumigation management plan

A site-specific document required by many fumigant labels that records target pest, volume, sealing method, dosage, monitoring schedule, safety plan, and emergency contacts, kept on site.

Buffer zone determination

The perimeter distance taken from label tables based on application rate, structure size, and structure type; it must be cleared of people and posted before fumigant introduction.

Record retention for fumigation

Federal rules generally require pesticide application records be kept at least two years, and some state rules require longer; records must be produced to regulators on request.

Drywood termite diagnosis

Drywood termites live entirely in wood, push out six-sided fecal pellets from kick-out holes, and form small colonies; whole-structure fumigation is the standard curative treatment for inaccessible infestations.

Subterranean termites and fumigation

Fumigation kills termites inside a structure but does not eliminate the soil colony, so subterranean termites require soil-applied termiticide rather than structure fumigation alone.

Egg tolerance to fumigants

Eggs of many insects tolerate fumigants better than larvae and adults, so dosage and exposure must be set to kill the most tolerant stage present, often requiring longer exposure.

Sulfuryl fluoride target range

Sulfuryl fluoride penetrates wood well and kills all termite castes and many wood-boring beetles; it is odorless, nonflammable, heavier than air, and requires monitoring at low points.

Structure volume measurement

Volume is calculated from exterior dimensions including attics, crawlspaces, and connected voids, and is measured rather than estimated; it is the basis for the total fumigant dosage calculation.

Connected-space assessment

Shared attics, plumbing chases, HVAC ducts, and common walls can carry gas into adjacent units, so those units must be included in the treated volume or positively sealed off.

Pre-introduction occupant verification

Before sealing and releasing gas, the applicator must confirm that all occupants, pets, and plants are out, with special attention to persons needing assistance and to attached units.

Weather effects on fumigation

Wind stresses tarps and increases gas loss, temperature changes dosage and volatilization, and rain can break seals, so introduction timing and monitoring frequency must account for forecast conditions.

Tarp securing sequence

Fumigation tarps are sized to cover roof and walls with overlap, then secured with sand snakes, clamps, and ropes, sealing the tarp-to-ground junction to limit leakage.

Interior preparation for fumigation

Food, feed, medications, and perishables are removed or double-bagged, plants and pets removed, and interior doors and cabinets opened so gas distributes throughout the structure.

Monitoring line placement

Monitoring lines are placed at high and low points and in remote voids; readings verify target concentration and detect leakage at the tarp perimeter and adjacent spaces.

Dosage per thousand cubic feet

Label rates are given per 1,000 cubic feet; total fumigant equals structure volume divided by 1,000, multiplied by the label rate, with temperature adjustments where specified.

Temperature correction of dosage

Many labels require increased dosage below a threshold temperature because volatilization and insect activity slow; the specific label table must be used rather than extrapolated.

Phosphine tablet placement

Phosphine tablets and pellets release gas on contact with atmospheric moisture; they are placed in shallow trays or on paper, never piled or stacked, and never confined in sealed containers.

Introduction point selection

Heavier-than-air fumigants are introduced high and monitored low; controlled release rates and fans where permitted prevent pooling and improve distribution into voids.

Aeration sequence

Aeration starts after the required exposure, opening the structure from top down and far end toward the exit, removing tarps and seals to allow cross-ventilation and mechanical exhaust.

Clearance level

The label-specified maximum airborne concentration, confirmed by a calibrated detector, that must be reached before re-entry without respiratory protection is allowed.

Clearance sampling locations

Readings must be taken at the lowest points, basements, crawlspaces, closets, and cabinets where gas pools; a single reading at the entry door is insufficient for clearance.

Phosphide spill response

Never apply water or acid to spilled aluminum or magnesium phosphide because it liberates flammable phosphine; cover with dry sand or earth, collect with nonsparking tools, and containerize outdoors.

Respirator selection for fumigants

Only NIOSH-approved respirators with the correct canister, or supplied-air/SCBA for high or unknown concentrations, may be used; escape-only respirators are not for entry into IDLH atmospheres.

Inhalation first aid

Move the victim to fresh air, call 911, keep them quiet and warm, give oxygen if trained, and use a barrier device rather than mouth-to-mouth when exposure status is unknown.