Bedbug 'cure' may be worse than the bite, health officials warn CDCGrowing numbers of bedbug outbreaks are prompting more people to use insecticides, sometimes with dire results. People creeped-out by rising rates of bed bug infestations may be taking eradication too far, according to federal health officials alarmed by growing reports of pesticide misuse -- and poisonings.Between 2006 and 2010, there were 129 reports of people who suffered mild to serious health harms when outdoor pesticides were used indoors, according to a health advisory issued this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Many people are somewhat desperate to find any solution,” said Bernadette Burden, a CDC spokeswoman. “This is something they’re not used to. Oftentimes, they’re tempted to use any insecticide that they can get their hands on.” Send me your story ideas Follow us on Facebook Follow me on Twitter That was certainly true for Melissa Constantinou, 25, a personal chef in Lowell, Mass., who was plagued with bedbugs last year.
Her apartment was treated four times and she says the potential for health problems never entered her mind.“Oh my gosh, it’s so emotionally disturbing,” she said. “I was willing to do whatever it took. I didn’t think about the long-term effects at all.”The problem is “an emerging national concern,” the health agencies said, citing data from the National Pesticide Information Center, where inquiries about bedbugs nearly doubled between 2007 and 2011. Nationwide, reports of bedbug infestations have been rising for years, the CDC says. Between January 2008 and April 2012, first-time service calls for bed bug treatment tripled, from about 100 to 300 requests a month, according to a survey conducted by Jeff White, technical director of the website BedBug Central.Most of the problems arise when people use too much pesticide or apply it improperly, said David Stone, director of the NPIC, who monitors the data.“A lot of them don’t understand that the label is the law,” said Stone.
“This product should not be applied directly to the skin. That product should not be used on mattresses.”Victims suffered typical symptoms of pesticide poisoning, including headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and muscle tremors. In Ohio, in 2010, a family that included two parents, four young children and a roommate all became ill after an uncertified pesticide company used malathion to spray an apartment five times over three days. The pesticide malathion was not registered for indoor use and the crew applied it so liberally that the beds and floor coverings were saturated, according to a recent CDC account.The death occurred when a 65-year-old North Carolina woman with heart and kidney problems became ill after liberal pesticide use. She and her husband sprayed all the walls and baseboards in the house with one kind of insecticide, used a different insecticide on the mattress and box springs, and opened nine cans of insecticide fogger. Two days later, they reapplied insecticides to the mattresses and box springs and opened another nine cans of a different fogger.
The woman applied a flea and bedbug pesticide to her arms, sores on her chest and her hair before covering it with a plastic cap.Two days after the second application of the pesticides, the woman’s husband found her unresponsive. She was hospitalized for nine days before her death, the CDC report said.“Outdoor pesticides should not be used indoors under any circumstances,” ATSDR officials warn. Consumers must make sure to read the product labels carefully to make sure they’re registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and that they’re certified for indoor use.“More importantly, follow the guidance and make sure you’re using the right pesticide and that you’re treating the right pest,” said the CDC’s Burden, who noted that bedbugs often can resemble other critters at different stages in their life cycle. Bugging out: Bedbugs stir extreme anxiety Tiny mites on your face may cause rosaceaWhere do I get a rigid queen-sized board for a foam mattress May 15, 2007 Subscribe
Where do I get a rigid sheet of plywood, plastic or thick particle board to go under my queen sized (60" x 80") foam mattress?Homeideas3/4 BedsBunk BedsOutdoor SpacesOutdoor KitchensOutdoor Living RoomsDream HomeSummerstrand DreamMy Dream HouseForwardbuy the wood from home depot, use the screws to hook the chains with and make it the size of a twin size bed....buy an old twin size mattress from goodwill cover it in plastic then in outdoor fabric to make a cool swing for the covered patio....whoop whoop. Survey And Design Bureau Lincoln Drive: Resurfacing and Restoration Project Solid Waste & Recycling Advisory Committee (SWRAC) The Streets Department does not accept metal oversized items or tires as part of curbside collection. Automotive tires and appliances, such as stoves, washing machines, refrigerators, hot water heaters, etc. should be taken away by a private hauler, or residents may bring these items (limit of two oversized items and four tires) to one of our .
Residents may continue to set out compactable furniture, such as sofas for collection at curbside, up to two items per week. Mattresses and box springs must be bagged and sealed in plastic mattress bags when placed curbside. Items may be set out on your regular trash day. They do not have to be bagged if taken to one of our Sanitation Convenience Centers. These photos are examples of approved mattress disposal bags. Televisions and Computer Equipment Televisions and computer equipment will not be collected curbside. These items may be discarded at scheduled Household Hazardous Waste events, or through other private means. Residents may also bring these items to a . Illegal Dumping is a Crime Maximum fine of $10,000 Prison up to five years You Can Stop It! Get the license number and description of the truck or car Call 215-685-9500 to report it Contact your local Police District to request the Code Violation Notice (CVN) trained officer
to report the site of illegal dumping. Dispose of your trash and construction debris legally. There are legal sites in Philadelphia to recycle or dump your trash and construction debris. Please take your oversized items to or to a private facility. Oversized Trash & Construction Debris Small contractors and individuals using pickup trucks may take trash to the following facilities to dispose of materials legally for a fee: 2904 S. Delaware Avenue Bath and Orthodox Sts. 6:00am - 6:30pm, Monday-Friday 6:00am - 11:30am, Saturday 4300 Rising Sun Avenue 6:00am - 5:00pm, Monday-Friday 7:00am - 3:00pm, Saturday 58th and Woodland Avenue 6:00am - 3:00pm, Monday-Friday 6:00am - 12:00pm, Saturday For additional information about recycling, check your Business-to-Business Yellow Pages for names of recyclers. You can also call 215-686-5560 for information on recycling other materials. The City of Philadelphia is providing this list only as a service and does not endorse any of the companies.