Hazards of Bug Bombs Home Page

• Foggers can Make you Sick

• Foggers can Explode

• Pest Control Alternatives

• Problems to Avoid

• Related Links

• Letter to EPA

Hazards of Bug Bombs

Foggers Can Explode!

Besides increasing the risk of making you sick from the product, using too many foggers for the size home can cause fires or explosions. 

• The labels of most foggers require that you:

  • turn off pilot lights

  • gas fireplaces and

  • unplug any source of sparks while fogging an area

   

• Flammable gases from bug bomb cans can ignite and damage your home or cause injury.

Case Examples

• A woman was setting off bug bombs in her home when the fog coming from one can suddenly ignited. The can then exploded. She was still in the room at the time and suffered respiratory symptoms. She had positioned the can near her gas hot water heater but had forgotten to turn off the gas first. The fire department responded and treated her with oxygen on site. No significant property damage.

• In California, house explosions involving loss of windows, doors, and parts of the roof have been reported after excessive use of bug bombs.  Some of these explosions have been ignited by sparks from electrical appliances that cycle on and off such as refrigerators and air conditioners.

• In Portland, Oregon, bug bombs exploded in a hot car, breaking windows and causing other damage.  Luckily, no one was in the car.  Canisters can burst at high temperatures.