Author: anuja

The Issue:

No rosy introductions, no sneak previews, let’s do straight talk!

Rodents adversely affect humans in three main ways:

1. They eat agricultural crops in the field;
2. They eat, spoil and contaminate stored food; and
3. They carry diseases of humans and their livestock.

In the Asia–Pacific region, rodents are one of the most peril constraints to agricultural production. This region contains two-thirds of the World’s poor—approximately­­ 800 million people in 2001 and the majority of these people live in rural areas. Management of rodent pests in agricultural regions is, therefore, a high priority for reducing poverty.

More than 90% of the world’s rice is produced and consumed in Asia, with rice producing 35–60% of the total food energy for the three billion people living in the region (Khush 1993). The pre-harvest impact of rodent pests on rice-based agricultural systems in 11 Asian countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam causes chronic losses to production in the order of 5–10% per annum. Today, it is not unusual for small-holder rice farmers to report chronic yield losses of 20–30% per annum, rising to 50% or even total crop loss in certain seasons. In Asia, a loss of 5% of rice production amounts to approximately 30 million tonnes; enough rice to feed 180 million people for 12 months! Postharvest losses are probably of a similar magnitude to pre-harvest losses. (Gary Singleton)

In India, losses of grain to rodents are estimated to be 25-30% postharvest at a cost of at least US$5 billion annually in stored food and seed grain (FAO 1999). Another author claims that this could be a conservative figure, based on estimates that there are in excess of 2.5 billion rats in India and each one potentially could cause US$10–15 billion in damages each year (Hart 2001). Postharvest damage by rodents includes direct consumption of stored grain and contamination by rodent excrements, parasites, and corpses and damage to containers (e.g., jute bags in India particularly). Also, in Indonesia, Suharno (1987) reported that rodent gnawing was the cause of treatment failures for insect pests, and increased treatment costs in bag stacks sealed under plastic enclosures after disinfestations with carbon dioxide.

There are 60+ rodent-borne diseases reported to affect humans (Gratz 1996). The foremost diseases for concern within the rice-growing agricultural zones

• Leptospirosis (6,000 cases in Thailand in the year 2000 with 320 deaths; A. Payakaphanta, pers. commun.);
• The arena- and hantaviruses that cause hemorrhagic diseases (Mills 1999);
• The plague (Yersinia pestis); rat typhus (Rickettsia ); and
• Neuro-angiostrongyliasis (Prociv et al 2000).

The proposed solution:

The bad

Human ingenuity has come up with different ways of catching rodents. Many groups of people have developed specific traps and snares that either kill or capture any rodent that ventures too close. Four main kinds of traps are single-capture live-traps, single-capture kill-traps, and snares, multiple-capture live-traps & pitfall traps. With rodent population being as high as 10 per sqm. in some areas, this does not seem to be a feasible option. Additionally, the disposal of a trapped rat in a timely manner would be a humongous task.

The ugly

Poisoned baits and spray pesticides are used extensively in many parts of the world. It has been estimated that approximately 95% of all rodenticides used are anticoagulant baits. Not only are these baits easy to use and readily accessible over the counter, but they are also extremely effective in killing rodents and other pests. However, they also are lethal to non-target species, including human besides domestic dogs and cats of course! These are mainly based on inorganic compounds which are not metabolized but are directly absorbed, distributed and excreted. Most of them have adverse effects on mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and reproduction of humans. The table following this article, compiled by Dr. Gary Singleton based on personal visits to rice fields will demonstrate the gravity of the situation in various Asian countries. Currently, only toxic rodenticides are used which should be curbed as early as possible.

Conclusion:
Rodents cause tremendous economic hardship to Asian smallholder farmers, yet solutions for management can be simple and effective. Innovative non- toxic and eco- friendly options need to be encouraged to enter the fascinating secret world of rats and work closely with farmers to assist them in their struggle against the hardships caused by rodents.

Country	National Government priority	Farmer priority	Lead Government Agency	Current Control by Farmers (government recommendation)
Bangladesh	High	High	BRRI, BARI (and NGOs)	Reactive use of rodenticides; fumigation burrows; traps (rodenticides-no clear operational national policy)
Cambodia	Moderate	High in regions	CARDI, AEC	Community rat hunts; digging; reactive use of regions poison (ZnPh of variable quality) (reactive provision of bounties and ZnPh)
China PR	Moderate	??	Various	Reactive use of acute and chronic rodenticides (chronic rodenticides)
India	Very High in regions	High	AICRRP, funded by IRC, ICAR	Bunds–low growth; trapping; reactive use of rodenticides in mass-scale control programs (rodenticides: surveillance then pulse application; fumigation)
Indonesia	Very High	Very High	CRIFIC: RIR, DFCP	Reactive use of poisons; fumigation (sulfur); hunting; bunds – low growth (except main channels); CTBS; bounty (EBRM: CTBS; bunds–low growth; synchronous crops; etc.)
Lao PDR	High in Uplands	High in Uplands	NAFRI, Provincial Dept. Agric	Bounties; hunting; digging; reactive use of poison (ZnPh; unknown Chinese) (no government recommendations formulated)
Malaysia	Low	Patchy	MARDI, Dept. Agric	Reactive use of acute poison (ZnPh); anticoagulants (use anticoagulant weekly for 8 wk after planting crop; barn owls as predator)
Myanmar	High	High	MAS	Reactive use of poisons; hunting; digging
Philippines	Low	High	PhilRice, BPI, RCPC, NCPC	Reactive use of acute poison (ZnPh); seasonal NCPC rat drives (postharvest); digging; bunds–low growth (sustainable baiting using anticoagulant after planting crop)
Thailand	Moderate (High for health)	??	DOA- AZRG, DOAE- PPS	Reactive use of acute poison (ZnPh); digging; hunting (strategic use of chronic [or acute] poisons; pit traps)
Vietnam	Very High	Very High	MARD: IAS- South, NIP- North, MARD- PPD and sub- PPDs	Bounties; reactive use of poisons (ZnPh; unknown Chinese; BioRat; anticoagulant); plastic fences; CTBS (BioRat; cat as predator (developing CTBS/EBRM principles))

To eradicate this problem we at C Tech Corporation have come up with a viable solution. We have come up with a product named Rodrepel®™.

Rodrepel®™ is an extremely low toxicity and extremely low hazard, and environmentally safe anti-rodent additive for masterbatches specially developed for a range of polymeric and coating applications including films, wires, and cables. It is also effective in case the target species is birds and other animals. It is compatible with nearly all polymeric bases such as PVC, LDPE, HDPE etc.

It is also available in lacquer and liquid form and can be easily coated onto an application to repel the rodents. The best part about this product is that it works on the mechanism of repellence and does not kill the target species. i.e. rodents, thus being in accordance with the need of the century, Sustainability and green chemistry.

Contact us at technical.marketing@ctechcorporation.com if you’re facing problems with rodents and get best remedies to combat the pest menace.

Also, visit our websites:

http://www.ctechcorporation.com/
http://www.rodrepel.com/
http://www.termirepel.com/
http://www.combirepel.com/

Follow our Facebook pages at:

1] https://www.facebook.com/Combirepel-411710912249274/
2] https://www.facebook.com/Termirepel-104225413091251/
3] https://www.facebook.com/Rodrepel-120734974768048/

Follow us on our Twitter pages at:

1] https://twitter.com/rodrepel
2] https://twitter.com/termirepel
3] https://twitter.com/combirepel

Aptly defined as the pain-producing component, Nonivamide is synthetic capsaicin belonging to the genus Capsicum.¹

Nonivamide is also called pelargonic acid vanillylamide or PAVA and is a capsaicinoid. It is present in chili peppers but is commonly manufactured synthetically. The reddish brown, oily liquid obtained by extracting dried, ripe fruit of chili peppers are known as Oleoresin capsicum. More than 100 compounds have been identified in oleoresin capsicum, but capsaicin is the most pungent and particularly irritant component in many peppers comprising of 0.007% to 0.7% of the dried mass. ²

2 most unfortunate myths associated with this synthetic capsaicin are discussed in this article.

MYTH #1:

“Nonivamide can be used to deter pests”

Capsaicin compound is sold popularly as mammalian pests, bird and insect deterrents. A common example is the use of ground-up or crushed dried chili pods in birdseed to deter squirrels since birds are unaffected by capsaicin. However, these solutions may be a realistic option for commercial applications.

Although hot chili pepper extract is commonly used as a component of household and garden insect repellent formulas, extensive studies show that it is not clear that the capsaicinoid elements of the extract are responsible for any repellency. Even if the effects are seen, they are only temporary. ³

In fact, the matter of fact is that- Unlike many fruits, which have evolved to seed dispersal with the zoochory, the seeds of Capsicum plants are predominantly dispersed by birds themselves, in which capsaicin has an analgesic rather than irritant property! Chili pepper seeds consumed by birds pass through the digestive tract unharmed, whereas those consumed by mammals do not germinate at all.

Most of the pests possess evolutionary advantages: Birds & mammals do not have the same sensitivity to capsaicin anymore, because it targets a specific pain receptor which is now immune to the hotness. Chili peppers are eaten by birds living in the chili peppers’ natural range. The seeds of the peppers are distributed by the birds that drop the seeds while eating the pods, and the seeds pass through the digestive tract unharmed. This relationship may have promoted the evolution of the protective capsaicin. In the picture above, you can see a grey squirrel inside a chili ring of fire, eating the bird food.⁹

MYTH #2:

“Nonivamide is non- toxic and safe to humans”

Since capsaicin is universally used as a self- defense and riot- control agent in form of pepper sprays, tear gas, etc, the notes and documents from various statutory bodies worldwide have been sadly misunderstood. In the summary report on Nonivamide by The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (Veterinary Medicines Evaluation Unit), a conclusion that Nonivamide has low oral toxicity and recommendation for use in topical treatment is given. Similarly, a Committee on Toxicology of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products & the Environment has given a statement on the use of PAVA as an incapacitant spray. The report concludes that the available information, both from the toxicity data in experimental studies, and experience in use, indicates that the low exposures arising from the use of PAVA incapacitant spray would not be expected to be associated with any significant adverse health effects.

Capsaicin is almost non- toxic, as also highlighted by these reports. But the glitch here is that in food/ pharma applications the dosage of Nonivamide is not more than 1%. Most of the self-defense or pepper sprays contain not more than 0.32% of capsaicin. In large quantities, capsaicin can cause death.⁵ Symptoms of overdose include difficulty breathing, blue skin, and convulsions. Eye exposure produces intense tearing, pain, conjunctivitis and blepharospasm.⁷

Acute toxicity values:

The lethal dose (LD50 in mice) of capsaicin is 47.2 mg/kg. According to the WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard, this compound falls in Class 1b (5- 50 mg/kg rat) meaning a “highly hazardous substance”. (Refer WHO classification in the table along). The label for such a substance is shown here.

R- and S-Phrases:

R-phrases (short for Risk Phrases) are defined in Annex III of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Nature of special risks attributed to dangerous substances and preparations. The list was consolidated and republished in Directive 2001/59/EC, where translations into other EU languages may be found. R-phrases for Capsaicin are:

R25 Toxic if swallowed;

R36 Irritating to eyes:

R37 Irritating to the respiratory system;

R38 Irritating to the skin;

R41 Risk of serious damage to eyes;

R42/43 May cause sensitization by inhalation and skin contact.⁵

S-phrases are defined in Annex IV of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Safety advice concerning dangerous substances and preparations. The list was consolidated and republished in Directive 2001/59/EC, where translations into other EU languages may be found. S- phrases for Capsaicin are:

S22 Do not breathe dust;

S26 In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice.

S28- After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of water;

S36/37/39 Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves, and eye/face protection.

S45 In case of accident or if you feel unwell; seek medical advice immediately (show the label where possible).

DOT Classification:

CLASS 6.1: Poisonous material

Identification: Toxic solid, organic, n.o.s. (capsaicin) UNNA: 2811 PG: III

Case Study:

Human Volunteer Studies were carried out by exposing volunteers to PAVA by inhalation to study the effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The aerosol was generated using a nebulizer to provide respiratory particles. Ten healthy subjects and ten mild asthmatic subjects were exposed to a range of concentrations. It was noted that under operational use with concentrations as low as 1.3%, the subjects would be likely to be experiencing a high level of stress, and this could lead to clinically significant bronchospasm.⁸ 

Non- toxic and non- hazardous options in lieu of Nonivamide:

Unlike conventional rodenticides or termiticides, Rodrepel™® and Termirepel™® respectively “repel” the pests; and have been prepared by molecules simulated by advanced research which are completely non-toxic to humans as well as other animals. They are completely free of insecticides, heavy metals or products such as copper or lead naphthenates, lindane etc or chemicals- natural/synthetic found dangerous or harmful to humans or animals. The products do not migrate or leach out from the polymer to contaminate groundwater resources. The active life of these products is 15- 40 years depending upon the application.

To eradicate this problem we at C Tech Corporation have come up with a viable solution. We have come up with a product named Rodrepel®™.

Rodrepel®™ is an extremely low toxicity and extremely low hazard, and environmentally safe anti-rodent additive for masterbatches specially developed for a range of polymeric and coating applications including films, wires, and cables. It is also effective in case the target species is birds and other animals. It is compatible with nearly all polymeric bases such as PVC, LDPE, HDPE etc.

It is also available in lacquer and liquid form and can be easily coated onto an application to repel the rodents. The best part about this product is that it works on the mechanism of repellence and does not kill the target species. i.e. rodents, thus being in accordance with the need of the century, Sustainability and green chemistry.

Contact us at technical.marketing@ctechcorporation.com if you’re facing problems with rodents and get best remedies to combat the pest menace.

Also, visit our websites:

http://www.ctechcorporation.com/
http://www.rodrepel.com/
http://www.termirepel.com/
http://www.combirepel.com/

Follow our Facebook pages at:

1] https://www.facebook.com/Combirepel-411710912249274/
2] https://www.facebook.com/Termirepel-104225413091251/
3] https://www.facebook.com/Rodrepel-120734974768048/

Follow us on our Twitter pages at:

1] https://twitter.com/rodrepel
2] https://twitter.com/termirepel
3] https://twitter.com/combirepel

“By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation” aptly quoted by Hon. Edmund Burke. This is the power of rats and their family of rodents. With rodent population growing 10X faster than humans, the riot caused by them is also escalating at an equal pace. Rodents predominantly affect rural families in three main ways: they damage the irrigation tubing in the field as well they eat, spoil and contaminate stored food; they are liable to disrupt basic gas/ water/ power supply by disrupting haulage tubes and cables; and they carry diseases of humans and their livestock. Asia Pacific region contains two-thirds of the World’s poor—approximately 800 million people in 2001— and the majority of these people live in rural areas. Management of rodent pests in agricultural regions is therefore a high priority for reducing poverty. Polymer products are particularly affected since they cannot endure the attack by rodents. A sneak peek into the rodent invasion at varied levels in myriad applications is illustrated. Conventionally available and popularly used rodenticides cause chronic diseases that may be more severe than the malady caused by rodents’ invasion. The article aims to demonstrate the necessity of increased awareness so as to minimize the rodent incurred economic losses and to emphasize the need to switch to safer and eco- friendlier alternatives.

Rodent menace:

The number may be intriguing but true; forty percent of mammal species found on earth are rodents. Scores of rodents are found on all continents other than Antarctica. Common rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, porcupines, beavers, guinea pigs and voles. Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, which is characterized by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. Gnawing is defined as the act of biting, chewing on, or eroding with the teeth.

Indeed, in almost all regions, the rodent species found around houses and in fields are viewed as ‘pests’ or even as ‘vermin’. And often with just cause—the rodents consume and spoil crops in the field and in storage bins, they damage household possessions and even buildings and roads, and they play an often overlooked but highly significant role in the transmission of various diseases.

Rodent menace can cause severe economic losses. Rodents chew on plastic doors, sidings, benches, molded plastic parts, cables, wires, railway components practically anything. In the wild too, they chew on products made of plastics such as trash bins, containers, cables etc. The rodent menace to polymer products in various industrial sectors is illustrated in Fig. 1:

Fig. 1: Rodent menace in different industrial sectors.

Rodents are particularly fascinated to plastic pipes and tubing which are laid either on surface or underground. The color and odor of plastic pipes attract rodents, which in search of water and their fetish for gnawing action attack these pipes; that may or may not be hauling water.

Wires and Cables: Rodents gnawing through wires could result in short circuits leading to fire hazards; whereas damage to optical fiber cables could disrupt transmission of sensitive communication. Rodents often disturb underground train services and metro rail services. Sterlite Optical Technologies Ltd. has published several papers on rodent damage to wires and cables; vividly troubled by this issue. They claim that rodent attacks have been a chief cause for heavy maintenance cost of duct & direct-buried cable networks and is a threat to service operators in almost all geographic locations of the world.

Agriculture: Rodents have two major impacts. The first is the substantial pre- and postharvest losses they cause to agriculture. The second is as carriers of debilitating human diseases.

Drip irrigation & Pipelines (pre- harvest losses): Drip irrigation, also known micro- irrigation, is an irrigation method which saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. However, the whole purpose of conservation of water using such systems turns futile if these tubes get vulnerable to rodent attacks. Some farmers despondently state that “for every eight rows of rice they sow for their families, they sow two rows for the rats.” Pioneers in drip irrigation systems, Jain Group, has now included rodent deterrent type of hoses/ tubes in their product catalogue.

Storage containers and bags (post- harvest losses): Rodents have an enormous economic impact on stored grain in developing countries. In one year, 25 adult rats would eat and damage about half a ton of grain and produce about 375,000 droppings! Good data on postharvest losses caused by rodents are sparse; however, reports of up to 20% postharvest losses of rice are not unusual. Under traditional rice farming systems, rodents generally cause chronic losses to production in the order of 5–10% per annum. In Asia, a loss of 5% of rice production amounts to approximately 30 million tonnes; enough rice to feed 180 million people for 12 months.

Gas hauling devices: Sensitive applications such as gas transfer are also disturbed by chewing of rubber gas tubing and pipelines. This has now compelled the pipeline and rubber tubing manufacturers to fabricate products, with anti- rodent properties, complying with government specifications. Timesonline, UK News, had reported a disastrous death of old lady due to gas explosion. Gnawing rodents were to blame for the death of an 80-year-old woman in a massive explosion that flattened her home. They had gnawed through her kitchen rubber pipes, causing a build-up of gas in the room.

Aircraft arrester systems: According to study by the Defense Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior, India; the aircraft arrester system remains in open ground all the time, since it is used on runways. It is damaged by rodents who by nature chew and cut materials and hence nylon tapes in open fields are susceptible to these rodent attacks. Fig. 2 shows a snapshot of the damage to the conveyor belts with and without rodent repellent properties published by the researchers in an article. The rodents consume more than 50% of the nylon belt without any rodent repellent additive.

Fig. 2: Degree of damage in tapes with and without rodent repellent property (Pigment & Resin Technology, 34/5, 2005, 270–274)

Automobile: Many of us have had trouble starting our cars in the morning as a rat or a vole had eaten through the cable. Complaints of car shut-downs and engine damage are extensive and prevalent globally. And to add to the dilemma, rodent damage is not covered under most auto insurance schemes.

Domestic appliances: LG, one of the leading home appliance manufacturers, has been trying to come up with new methods to prevent the cable and wiring of refrigerators from rodent attack. They have developed anti- rodent sleeves using ROHS compliant polymer additives for such measures.

Current methods and their drawbacks for rodent control:

Traditional chemicals used as rodenticides include organochlorine pesticides like Lindane and heavy metal based compounds such as Copper Naphthenate and Lead Naphthenate. These are used as additives in polymer industry during extrusion. However, these chemicals are not meant for use in polymer products due to following concerns:

• Human Health Hazard: These harmful rodenticide additives volatilize at polymer processing temperatures and release extremely fumes. Not only does this lead to an extensive loss of chemical during processing; but also poses fatal hazards to workers handling such products at the shop floor. A short term or an acute exposure to such toxins can cause brain damage, kidney damage and gastrointestinal distress while a long term or chronic exposure would mean adverse effects on kidney, blood pressure and central venous system of humans. Carcinogenic and mutagenic disorders have also been reported.
• Environmental issue: The use of such pesticides is also a serious environmental concern as they leach out from the polymer to enter the atmosphere and are later deposited by rain. They get carried into surface waters as well as ground water. Being fat-soluble such chemicals tend to accumulate through food chains, as is common with organochlorine pesticides.
• Regulatory norms: Most countries like Finland, Indonesia, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Lucia, Sweden, Australia, Austria, Cyprus, Norway and Sri Lanka have either banned or restricted the use of Lindane and other such poisonous pesticides. In India too, eminent government bodies like TEC, RDSO, etc have defined the antirodent test methodology to account for the non toxic nature of the additives, and to curb the use of hazardous chemicals by the polymer industry.

Thus, control over rodents in a safer, better and eco-friendlier manner is the need of the hour; in India and other parts of the world.

Non toxic and more efficient alternative:

Employing innovative masterbatch formulation techniques and focusing on environmental issues and safety norms that are the call for the day, polymer-specific masterbatch for effective rodent repellence is now possible. Rodrepel™^®, a patented product by C-Tech Corporation, has been successful in keeping the rodents away from plastic articles in non hazardous manner. These are compatible with almost all polymers used for cable/ tubing/ sheets/ pipes applications. The product is made from natural oils and is free of any chemical toxins or heavy metals.

Rodrepel™^® does not kill but only repels the animal by making use of the sensory mechanisms. The product functions from a distance due to the foul smell which generates a typical fear response in the animal. Ferocious species are further deterred from biting by advanced mechanisms like dermal irritation, extremely bitter taste, sensory stimuli modification and henceforth conditioning of their response towards the Rodrepel™^® containing products. Thus, Rodrepel™^® actually helps in modifying animal behavior. Rodents being social animals also communicate the bad experience to their population in vicinity.

It is also available in lacquer and liquid form and can be easily coated onto an application to repel the rodents. The best part about this product is that it works on the mechanism of repellence and does not kill the target species. i.e. rodents, thus being in accordance with the need of the century, Sustainability and green chemistry.

Contact us at technical.marketing@ctechcorporation.com if you’re facing problems with rodents and get best remedies to combat the pest menace.

Also, visit our websites:

http://www.ctechcorporation.com/
http://www.rodrepel.com/
http://www.termirepel.com/
http://www.combirepel.com/

Follow our Facebook pages at:

1] https://www.facebook.com/Combirepel-411710912249274/
2] https://www.facebook.com/Termirepel-104225413091251/
3] https://www.facebook.com/Rodrepel-120734974768048/

Follow us on our Twitter pages at:

1] https://twitter.com/rodrepel
2] https://twitter.com/termirepel
3] https://twitter.com/combirepel

 

The  myth…

Widely used as a wood preservative and also in many polymeric applications for protection against insects and rodents. Copper naphthenate or more specifically copper naphthenate solution which consists of 20% copper naphthenate mixed with white spirits or mineral turps type solvents have been popularly reintroduced in the market as a formulation which is effective in its primary purpose of being a wood preservative and yet provide positive benefits with respect to safety of human health and environment. Thus a win-win solution to a problem with no minimal side effects is what has been propagated.

The facts…

…that it is carcinogenic!: 

While copper naphthenate is said to be comprising of copper naphthenate in combination with white spirits/ mineral turps type solvents, the truth is that it contains about 20% copper salts of naphthenic acids which comprise of an unknown mixture of certain petroleum by products and contaminants and about 80% secret unknown ingredients. These contaminants and by products haven’t been researched enough to conclude that they have no side effects: harmful or otherwise in the long or short run. Most petroleum based constituents are known acutely toxic, chronically toxic and carcinogenic compounds! Moreover they are volatile which means that at any point of time the air surrounding you could be laden with lethal carcinogens: not a very comforting thought especially since you are told that what you are using is non toxic!!!

…that there are disorders!:

Moreover copper naphthenate is an oil-based wood preservative. Most oil based preservatives are easily absorbed through the skin as also by inhalation. Chronic exposure to these preservatives can lead to anemia and it also increases the permeability of membranes which can accelerate the uptake of other toxic substances. Children in particular are more susceptible as they can easily ingest these chemicals within their systems! They are also neurotoxic and can affect nerve transmission and damage the central nervous system. Tests submitted to EPA have found that Copper Naphthenate induces DNA damage. Inhalation of copper dusts and fumes is reported to lead to nasal congestion as also congestion of the upper digestive and perforation of the nasal septum.

…the various reports:

A report by the Department of Medicine, Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee correlates the widespread application of copper naphthenate and copper absorption in humans and animals. It studied a family of three individuals who lived in a home where copper naphthenate was sprayed on the inner foundation. In two of these individuals, serum copper levels were elevated when first measured months after copper naphthenate was sprayed in the home! This report suggests the need for further study of the absorption and relative toxicity of copper naphthenate. Now isn’t that a direct contradiction to the so called consolidated facts that copper naphthenate is non toxic??

Another report by the Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Patho-biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University studied the effects of copper naphthenate toxicosis in cattle. The results were quite alarming as fourteen cattle on a Kansas pasture died from ingestion of a wood preservative compound containing copper naphthenate. Clinical signs included depression, anorexia, ataxia, diarrhea, and recumbency. Grossly visible lesions included perirenaledema, pale kidneys, and stomach ulceration. All the cows that had postmortem evaluations had extensive renal cortical tubular necrosis. The findings indicated that the copper naphthenate may have contributed to abomasal ulceration.

…heavy metal poisoning:

Being a heavy metal based compound there are many risks with handling copper which also need to be taken into account: Metal fume fever, wheezing and rales have been reported in workers exposed to fine copper dust. Dyspnea has developed after oral copper exposure. Pulmonary edema and alveolar inflammation have been noted in animals. Skin exposure could result in severe irritation, itching, erythema, dermatitis and eczema. Moreover ingestion of copper salts can even lead to gastroenteritis with severe vomiting. Menke’s disease which is an anemia disorder was recognized as a copper absorption disorder according to a report prepared by Rutgers the State University of New Jersey. The report also relates several other diseases with accumulation of toxic levels of copper in the liver and other tissues without excessive intake of the same. Mucosal erosions and burning epigastric sensations with diarrhea have been reported. Vapors of copper salts may form explosive mixtures with air which can travel to the source of ignition and flash back. Most vapors are heavier than air which spread along the ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Vapor explosion and poison hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers

…extrusion problems: stink, hazards et al:

Moreover application of copper naphthenate for protection of polymeric applications such as wires and cables would entail the extrusion of copper naphthenate master batches along with the polymer. This process itself is quite replete with inconveniences like the extremely offensive smell of the master batch which the workers are often subjected to over a significant stretch of time as also various hazards related to the process itself. Copper naphthenate can pose as a fire hazard at higher temperatures which is generally the case with extrusion processes. Moreover it forms explosive mixtures with oxygen which can be fatal to workers who might be handling the extrusion process.

Beyond the myth…!

Probably the reason why copper naphthenate has been classified as non toxic and relatively harmless is because of lack of extensive research undertaken to explore its various problems and side effects. But the above reported results show how it has been found to be toxic and therefore extensive study of the same is the need of the hour which would then probably reveal in alarming proportions whatever has been found so far to have affected humans and animals alike! What however we can do is stop or reduce the use of such compounds as ultimately it is us the end users who suffer the consequences and not the ones who supply it or market it claiming that it is non toxic because as Mark Twain famously quoted that ‘what appears to be may not always be the case!’ And it certainly isn’t the case with copper naphthenate!

References:

http://www.beyondpesticides.org/wood/pubs/poisonpoles/chemicals.html

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15563659208994449?journalCode=ctx

http://jvdi.org/cgi/content/full/19/3/305

http://digitalfire.com/4sight/hazards/ceramic_hazard_copper_compounds_329.html

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/naphthenate-salts-red.pdf

http://www.chemicalbook.com/ProductMSDSDetailCB3205514_EN.htm

http://69.59.152.188/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC39772

http://pestreg.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/whs/memo/hsm94009

http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/county/cacltrs/penfltrs/penf2002/2002atch/attch44.pdf

http://www.ccl.rutgers.edu/reports/ICA/ICA2002_copper1.pdf

Building Materials: Dangerous properties of materials in MasterFormat Divisions, by Leslie H Simmons and Richard J Lewis, Sr.

Wiley guide to Chemical incompatibilities, by Richard P Pohanish and Stanley A Greene.

To eradicate this problem we at C Tech Corporation have come up with a viable solution. We have come up with a product named Rodrepel®™.

Rodrepel®™ is an extremely low toxicity and extremely low hazard, and environmentally safe anti-rodent additive for master batches specially developed for a range of polymeric and coating applications including films, wires, and cables. It is also effective in case the target species is birds and other animals. It is compatible with nearly all polymeric bases such as PVC, LDPE, HDPE etc.

It is also available in lacquer and liquid form and can be easily coated onto an application to repel the rodents. The best part about this product is that it works on the mechanism of repellence and does not kill the target species. i.e. rodents, thus being in accordance with the need of the century, Sustainability and green chemistry.

Contact us at technical.marketing@ctechcorporation.com if you’re facing problems with rodents and get best remedies to combat the pest menace.

Also, visit our websites:

http://www.ctechcorporation.com/
http://www.rodrepel.com/
http://www.termirepel.com/
http://www.combirepel.com/

Follow our Facebook pages at:

1] https://www.facebook.com/Combirepel-411710912249274/
2] https://www.facebook.com/Termirepel-104225413091251/
3] https://www.facebook.com/Rodrepel-120734974768048/

Follow us on our Twitter pages at:

1] https://twitter.com/rodrepel
2] https://twitter.com/termirepel
3] https://twitter.com/combirepel