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Bug Bombs

Health effects | Explosions | Problems to avoid | Alternatives

Total release foggers, also known as bug bombs, are cans of pesticide that spray out all at once. They are used to control insect pests. Most bug bombs contain pyrethrin or pyrethroid-type insecticides, plus chemical propellents that make the fine mist that fills the room. Bug bombs can be a serious health and safety hazard, especially if you use too many or don’t follow directions.

Health Effects

Breathing the fog from bug bombs can cause nose and throat irritation, difficulty breathing, cough, dizziness, and vomiting. Exposure can also cause eye and skin irritation. People with respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and reactive airways disease may develop serious breathing difficulty and require emergency services after breathing the fog.

Case Example

• A woman set off three bug bombs in her apartment where one would have been enough. The label directs users to stay out of the treated area for four hours, then open windows and ventilate with fresh air before using the area. She re-entered the home after only two hours, opened windows and fell asleep for two hours. She awoke with headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. She was monitored at the hospital and missed one day of work.

Fires and 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 bombs can ignite and damage your home or cause injury.

Case Example

• 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.

View and print the Bug Bomb brochure. It's available in English and Spanish and contains a safety checklist when using an insect fogger.

Problems to Avoid

Overuse is a common problem with bug bombs. You need to understand how much fogger you need. Once you know the size of the area you going to treat, buy only what you need. There are many types of foggers and they treat different sized areas. Many popular foggers are sold in 3-packs with each can treating 5,000 or 7,000 cubic feet. Most bedrooms are less than 1,000 cubic feet. Read the front label to see how much area one can treats (Example: One 2.1 oz. can treats up to 7,000 cubic feet).

Early re-entry or lack of ventilation can lead to pesticide exposure. Once the fogger is activated, you must close all doors and windows and completely leave the treated area. Most labels require you to be out for four hours. After that time period, open doors and windows and air out the treated area before returning. If there is a strong smell when you re-enter, allow the space to air out longer before returning. If you have asthma or a breathing condition, consider alternatives to foggers or let someone else activate the fogger and air out the rooms before you return. Leave a note on the door that the home is being fogged to alert roommates and others not to enter. It will also alert the fire department in case the fog triggers the fire alarm.

Unsafe storage can allow children to find the bug bombs. There are no child proof features on fogger cans. Once a fogger is activated, the canister fogs until it is empty. Store foggers in high or locked locations to keep them out of reach of children.

Case Examples

• A woman set off four foggers in her two bedroom apartment. One can would have been enough. She returned four to six hours later to air out the apartment. She became ill with dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. The next morning, her face was numb after sleeping on a pillow that was left out during the fogging. Prolonged skin contact with ingredients in some foggers can cause burning and numbness on skin.

• An excessive amount of bug bombs (12-15) were activated in a single home and the people left. The fog triggered the house fire alarm and the fire department responded. When no one answered the door, they entered through an unlatched window to check for fire. As soon as they discovered the cans of fogger they exited. One fire fighter was over-exposed to the fogger fumes.

• A bug bomb canister was left out in a family's home. A four-year-old activated it exposing herself, her mother, and her six-year-old sister with asthma. They developed coughing and shortness of breath. They were transported by emergency responders to the hospital where they recovered.

Alternatives to Bug Bombs

Even though a bug bomb product says it controls certain insect pests - it may not be the best option. Bug bombs essentially throw the insecticide into the air, treating the exposed surface where it lands. If the insect pest is hiding under furniture or in cracks and crevices, it can avoid contact with the pesticide fog. Bug bombs don't control bed bugs and can be avoided for fleas, cockroaches, and other insect pests when effective control alternatives are chosen. The best way to control insect pests is to use multiple control strategies. Sometimes pests can be difficult to control on your own - considering hiring a professional pest control company if you need help.

For more on pest control, see UPEST's Household Integrated Pest Management.