Mothballs May Kill More Than Moths

by Michael Greger, M.D.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that over a billion pounds of pesticides are used every year in the United States, over 4 pounds for every man, woman, and child. Most studies to date have looked at the cancer risk involved with occupational pesticide exposure, but a new study out of New York University looked into the risks associated with household pesticide use.

Those using household pesticide products seemed to increase their risk of developing a high grade lymphoma (lymphoid cancer) by over 60%. The worst offenders seemed to be indoor insecticide foggers and mothballs. Those with any history of mothball usage seemed to double their risk of developing lymphoma.[20]

The major chemical constituents of mothballs are either paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene, the two most ubiquitously detected hazardous household chemicals in indoor air.[21] According to the U.S. Public Health Service, although people are exposed to these toxic chemicals in foods derived from animals exposed to insecticides (such as "meat, chicken, eggs, or fish," [22]) the primary exposure is through smoke, mothballs, toilet deodorizer blocks, and many indoor air "fresheners." 

Cedar blocks, cedar shavings or cedar oil represent nontoxic alternatives to mothballs

REFERENCES

[20] Kato I, Watanabe-Meserve H, Koenig KL, et al. "Pesticide Product Use and Risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Women." Environmental Health Perspectives 112(2004):1275.
[21] Van Winkel MR and Scheff PA. Volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and elements in the air of ten urban homes. Indoor Air 11(2001):49.
[22] Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2003. Toxicological profile for naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene. Draft for Public Comment. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service; Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2004. Toxicological profile for dichlorobenzenes. (Draft for Public Comment). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.