IRRITATING organic solvents can linger up to 24 hours after a room is
sprayed with insecticide, report scientists in this month鈥檚 Environmental
Science and Technology. Solvents can cause headaches, coughing, eye
irritation, and nausea.
John Bukowski, at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown,
Canada, studied chlorpyrofos, a widely used insecticide. The amount of airborne
solvents peaks 10 to 14 hours after application, say Bukowski and colleagues at
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. They suspect some
solvent
adheres to carpets, sofas and curtains.
There are currently no uniform guidelines for ventilation, says Bukowski.
鈥淪ome say use with ventilation, some say wait until dry, some don鈥檛 say
anything.鈥� Bukowski recommends ventilating a room for between 12 and 24 hours
after spraying.
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