Is smelling mothballs harmful?

Moth balls contain a toxic chemical, either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Both become a gas when exposed to air and cause that pungent moth ball smell. These gases are irritating to the eyes and lungs and may cause headache, dizziness and nausea. They are both suspected of causing cancer.

Is Breathing in mothballs harmful?

Inhalation of naphthalene may cause skin and eye irritation; gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea; neurologic symptoms, such as confusion, excitement, and convulsions; renal problems, such as acute renal shutdown; and hematologic features, such as icterus and severe anemia ...

Are mothballs safe to use in the house?

Per package directions, mothballs should only ever be in tightly closed containers, although even these containers may release vapors. Mothballs are particularly dangerous because they are often used incorrectly. They shouldn't be placed in closets, storage chests, trunks, garment bags, basements, or attics.

How long does it take for the smell of mothballs to go away?

Mothball odor is a terrible smell to have clinging to your clothing. And we have some shocking news for you: a single mothball takes about 3-6 months to dissipate completely. If you put the mothball under fabric or someplace where there is no air circulation, it takes about 12 months to dissipate!

How do I get the smell of mothballs out of my house?

Is smelling naphthalene balls harmful?

Can mothballs make you sick?

Some of the chemicals in mothballs can cause reversible health effects that include headaches, nausea, eye and nose irritation and coughing. Exposure to naphthalene can cause more serious effects, including hemolytic anemia. Naphthalene is also a possible carcinogen.

Why do people's houses smell like mothballs?

Specifically the chemical that causes the mothball smell is naphthalene. Naphthalene also is present in tobacco smoke, and even in the air in highly polluted cities. Companies that produce products such as ink, dye, coal and tar, preserve wood, or tan leathers also use naphthalene.

What kills the smell of mothballs?

Method 1 Wash the clothes with white vinegar Use a solution of white vinegar and water to get rid of mothball smells. Add one cup of white vinegar for every load you wash. Run the washing machine through two complete cycles for best results, even if your clothes are not very smelly.

Why do I keep smelling mothballs?

Takeaway. Mothball breath is caused by conditions that produce too much mucus in the mouth. Treating the underlying condition will eliminate the smell of mothball breath. Maintaining good oral hygiene habits is also necessary for keeping mothball breath — and all types of bad breath — at bay.

Is it safe to put mothballs in attic?

Mothballs should not be used inside attics, crawl spaces, gardens, trash cans or vehicles. "Often, mothballs are used in these locations to control pests other than clothes moths," Stone said. They include squirrels, skunks, deer, mice, rats, dogs, cats, raccoons, moles, snakes, pigeons and a variety of other animals.

Can I put mothballs in my closet?

Mothballs must be used in an airtight space, such as a garment bag or well- sealed container. Never place mothballs in an open closet or plastic garbage bag. Once vapors enter the home, their odor can persist for a long time.

How do you use mothballs safely?

Mothballs can be used safely. In order to use mothballs safely, you should put them in sealed containers so the fumes can build up and become potent enough to kill the moths. When these fumes are contained in a sealed environment they are not harmful to humans or pets.

What to use instead of mothballs?

What happens if you touch mothballs?

If you touch mothballs, naphthalene can enter your body. Low levels of naphthalene have been found in some samples of fatty tissue and breast milk. The body dissolves naphthalene in your blood, which carries it to the liver and other organs. It then passes through your body and exits in the urine and waste matter.

Is the smell of mothballs harmful to babies?

Storing treasured baby clothes in mothballs can be lethal, say leading pediatricians from Australia and New Zealand. The doctors say the fumes could lead to severe brain damage in babies and even death from the insecticide naphthalene used in mothballs.

What kind of animals do mothballs keep away?

Mothballs sometimes are used illegally to repel pests not listed on labels. Some of these “off-label pests” include: squirrels, skunks, deer, mice, rats, and snakes, among others animals.

What are mothballs good for?

Today's mothballs are typically almost 100% active ingredient, either paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene. These chemicals turn into gases that build up inside airtight containers, killing clothes moths and their eggs.

Why does my friends breath smell like mothballs?

These compounds could come from not brushing and flossing enough or conditions like gingivitis, periodontitis, dental cavities, and tongue coatings. As you can see, bacteria play a crucial role in the odor of your breath and could potentially be the cause of why your breath smells like mothballs.

How long do mothballs take to work?

How long do mothballs take to work? Mothballs get to work as soon as you place them in the area you wish to protect, and will work best in an enclosed area where the moths are trapped with the fumes. They can protect your clothing from moths and larvae for up to 3 months.

Why does my bathroom smell like mothballs?

It is the whiff of mothballs, the aroma masking a damp basement, the essence of an under-ventilated bathroom. It comes from a solid brick of insect-chasing, odor-covering, toilet-bowl cleaning power called paradichlorobenzene -- or "para" in the cleaning trade.

Will an air purifier get rid of mothball smell?

These two pollutants produced from camphor mothballs can often times be mitigated through the use of powerful, effective air purifiers that work to attack and remove these two forms of pollutants from the air.

What smells similar to mothballs?

Naphthalene is either a white solid or a liquid with a strong odor like mothballs. It's used to make dyes, explosives, plastics, lubricants, and is found naturally in crude oil. It is also found in coal tar wastes at former manufactured gas plants.

Are there odorless mothballs?

HERE`S A MOTHBALL THAT DOESN`T SMELL-AND LASTS INDEFINITELY

Roy Bry has built a better mothball-an odorless, colorless compound that protects woolen sweaters, suits and trousers from hungry moths almost indefinitely.

What happens to mothballs left in the open?

Mothballs slowly disappear as they turn into gas and mix with the surrounding air. The time it takes a mothball to vaporize depends on many factors, including how many mothballs are present, the amount of air-flow around the mothballs, and the temperature.

Can we use naphthalene balls in bathroom?

Naphthalene Balls - Afrika

These have a sublimating property and emanate fumes to kill moths and insects. They are scented and do not dissolve quickly. They can be used to keep clothes fresh for longer durations. This naphthalene ball is widely used in shoe cabinets, bookcases, bathroom and closets to control pests.