Safe Pest Control Saves Lives

The death of a one-year-old child during pest control treatment at an apartment building in Izmir has renewed concerns about the safety of pesticide applications. This tragic incident once again highlighted how dangerous the uninformed and unregulated use of chemical treatments can be.

Following this unfortunate event, the Aegean Regional Branch of the Chamber of Chemical Engineers of the Union of Turkish Engineers and Architects issued a statement emphasizing the precautions that must be taken when using biocidal products. Biocidal products are marketed in ready-to-use or concentrated form. Ready-to-use products are suitable for use by the general public, while concentrated products should only be used by trained professionals. If concentrated products are applied incorrectly, these substances can become potent poisons. For this reason, the sale of concentrated products should be restricted to certified professionals, and application should be carried out by these individuals.

The application doses of biocidal products are determined based on the pest type and the amount of active ingredient per square meter according to World Health Organization data. In uninformed applications, diluting the product less thoroughly to increase its effectiveness can increase its toxicity and lead to poisoning cases. For this reason, applicators must strictly adhere to dilution ratios, use personal protective equipment, and ensure the protection of people and the environment in the application area.

Moreover, it is of great importance that biocidal product applicators are trained, certified and authorized. The products used must be licensed by the Ministry of Health. Pest control companies must have a responsible manager on staff, and public health units must conduct regular inspections.

When some applicators fail to follow dilution ratios to solve pest problems in a single application, or mix multiple biocidal products together, they increase product toxicity and can cause serious harm to human and environmental health. For this reason, it is critical that knowledgeable and trained professionals perform pesticide applications, that products are diluted and applied correctly, that personal protective equipment is used, and that people and the environment in the application area are protected.

In conclusion, increasing inspections of pesticide applications, training and raising awareness among applicators, and ensuring that the products used are licensed and applied correctly are critical to preventing similar tragic incidents.