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Shocker: Bug Bombs Dangerous, State Will Restrict Use
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 21, 2008
Modified Oct 21, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 21, 2008
Modified Oct 21, 2008
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Bug bombs—or 'total release foggers,' as they say in the extermination biz—have caused at least eight serious explosions in New York City apartments in the past several years, including one last month in Manhattan that hospitalized six people. And besides the explosions, the bombs have also given people respiratory problems, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now the state Department of Environmental Conservation will classify foggers as a restricted-use product in New York State, meaning that only certified pesticide applicators can buy and use them. Better stock up! Oh, and here's a fun fact; the Times says that when the bug bombs first became popular after WWII, each bomb contained enough mist to “de-bug” about 10 to 15 average-size homes.
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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