John Dirks Jr Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 I found white powder spread in an attic. I did some searching and read a few things that talked about baby powder or talc powder being used as a deterrent for ants. Is is safe to conclude that this is what I found? Should I recommend that this substance be tested to see what it is? Click to View 61.33 KB Click to View 54.59 KB Click to View 42.77 KB
Bill Kibbel Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 I don't know if I would describe that as spread/applied. It looks like something stored broke open or spilled. Do you have an establishing shot? Should I recommend that this substance be tested to see what it is?Did you taste it? Jim K would!
John Dirks Jr Posted January 23, 2009 Author Report Posted January 23, 2009 Originally posted by inspecthistoric I don't know if I would describe that as spread/applied. It looks like something stored broke open or spilled. Do you have an establishing shot? Should I recommend that this substance be tested to see what it is?Did you taste it? Jim K would! It was evenly dusted all over. There is no doubt in my mind that someone made the effort to spread it. The picture of the pile is perhaps where some was also spilled. I can see how that picture could mislead. There were other attic eve areas that had access doors. The powder was spread in those areas too. Clearly, the effort and intent was to spread it all around. No, I did not taste it. I do taste fluids dripping from cars sometimes to see what they are. I havn't yet developed the habit of tasting unknown powders that I find in attics. Especially after the home owner tells me the pest control guy "sprayed" up there.
Richard Moore Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 It's hard to believe a pest control contractor would spread poison around like that in an area that might be accessed by humans, but who knows? I would report it as an unknown subtance and suggest the client have the home owner provide some rock-solid documentation from the pest guy on what he put up there. If that's not forthcoming, and you are not 100% certain it is just talc...well...I'm not sure I see any safe choice other than testing.
Jeremy Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Makes me think of Seven, the garden dust to kill or keep bugs off garden plants. Maybe the homeowner was doing his own exterminating?
hausdok Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 It might simply be some boric acid powder. When I lived at Ft. McClellen, Al the pest guys would come around every few months and dust that stuff all over everthing under/behind counters and in closets to knock back cockroaches. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike
John Dirks Jr Posted January 23, 2009 Author Report Posted January 23, 2009 Originally posted by hausdok It might simply be some boric acid powder. When I lived at Ft. McClellen, Al the pest guys would come around every few months and dust that stuff all over everthing under/behind counters and in closets to knock back cockroaches. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike So, can boric acid be harmful to humans when used like this?
John Dirks Jr Posted January 23, 2009 Author Report Posted January 23, 2009 I'll recommend that the pest control company be contacted to see if they can verify what is up there. I'll tell the client that if they don't feel comfortable with what the pest control company says, they should contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture and ask them to come out to take samples for testing.
Richard Moore Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Originally posted by hausdok It might simply be some boric acid powder. When I lived at Ft. McClellen, Al the pest guys would come around every few months and dust that stuff all over everthing under/behind counters and in closets to knock back cockroaches. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Live and learn! I see pest guy and attic and I automatically think rats or mice and poison. I guess I can count myself lucky to have zero experience of cockroach infestation.
hausdok Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Originally posted by John Dirks Jr Originally posted by hausdok It might simply be some boric acid powder. When I lived at Ft. McClellen, Al the pest guys would come around every few months and dust that stuff all over everthing under/behind counters and in closets to knock back cockroaches. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike So, can boric acid be harmful to humans when used like this? I doubt that the post would have been using it so liberally where kids and families were present if it were. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike
Jim Katen Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 I can't really tell from the picture, but I'd suspect boric acid also. It's fairly benign to mammals but it's hell on insects. Around here people use it to bother carpenter ants. - Jim Katen, Oregon
CaoimhÃn P. Connell Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Good morning, Gents! I didnââ¬â¢t know that the broadcasting of boric acid was a pest control measure. Question: Could it cause an health hazard to the occupants? Answer: It would certainly present a far greater risk than either radon or indoor mould. Having said that, it is not likely that the presence of the material (if it is boric acid) would result in a toxicologically significant exposure. Boric acid is a weak acid, and a simple field pH test would certainly confirm whether it had base or acid properties, but would not identify the material. However, if the pH was elevated, you could conclusively rule out boric acid. Cheers! CaoimhÃn P. Connell Forensic Industrial Hygienist www.forensic-applications.com (The opinions expressed here are exclusively my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect my professional opinion, opinion of my employer, agency, peers, or professional affiliates. The above post is for information only and does not reflect professional advice and is not intended to supercede the professional advice of others.) AMDG
hausdok Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Hi All, I don't know if I've ever shown you all this link before, but it's one you really should have if you want to refer your clients to a source of information about how to safely deal with pests. http://www.stephentvedten.com/ ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike
Jim Katen Posted January 25, 2009 Report Posted January 25, 2009 Originally posted by CaoimhÃn P. Connell Good morning, Gents! I didnââ¬â¢t know that the broadcasting of boric acid was a pest control measure. Well, it's not *supposed* to be broadcast like that. However, it can be very effective when injected into cavities. Question:Could it cause an health hazard to the occupants? Answer: It would certainly present a far greater risk than either radon or indoor mould. Ha! Very funny. So would soft drinks & pizza. Having said that, it is not likely that the presence of the material (if it is boric acid) would result in a toxicologically significant exposure. Boric acid is a weak acid, and a simple field pH test would certainly confirm whether it had base or acid properties, but would not identify the material. However, if the pH was elevated, you could conclusively rule out boric acid. Tastes like Pez with a slightly bitter aftertaste. - Jim Katen, Oregon
SonOfSwamp Posted January 25, 2009 Report Posted January 25, 2009 I watched the Smug Channel (aka Green Channel) this AM, and learned that boric acid is routinely mixed into cellulose insulation. It must be true, because the Internet agrees with the Green Channel. Another thing: They're using shredded blue jeans for wall insulation now. Says Steve Thomas, "You could eat it..." WJ
hausdok Posted January 25, 2009 Report Posted January 25, 2009 Hi, Yes, borate is mixed with Silvawool (shredded wood) and cellulose (mulched newsprint) as a fire retardant. The cotten insulation has been around for a while now; it's pretty popular in new construction down under for some reason. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike
davidlord Posted January 25, 2009 Report Posted January 25, 2009 It's most likely a product like Delta Dust that contains Deltamethrin which is an insecticide dust. See it all the time in these parts.
John Dirks Jr Posted January 26, 2009 Author Report Posted January 26, 2009 The client contacted the pest control company who told them it is boric acid.
Mike Lamb Posted June 22, 2012 Report Posted June 22, 2012 I thought at first this insulation was cellulose but its fiberglass with a fine powder over it. I didn't taste it. Boric acid? I wanted to think it was 50 years of dust but it's definitely a powder. Click to Enlarge 44.39 KB Click to Enlarge 50.22 KB Click to Enlarge 51.68 KB Click to Enlarge 47.81 KB
cotopaxi Posted October 29, 2012 Report Posted October 29, 2012 Well if you see any dead rodents or critters in the vicinity of the white powder you can assume that the substance is a insecticide that was applied a while ago.
Charlie R Posted November 2, 2012 Report Posted November 2, 2012 Boric acid is also one of the main things used by the mattress industry. The boric acid is used to treat any flammable parts of the mattress (think cotton) to meet the US standards for flame retardation in mattresses. Basically, we sleep with it.
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