You might not notice the mothball smell right away or it may arise slowly over a period of weeks or months. The thought of a musty smell probably makes you think about mothballs. Naphthalene is an active ingredient that is commonly used in mothballs and paradichlorobenzene is the other. Vote. Although the FDA has determined moth balls to be safe for general use, the inhalation of a moth ball or its fumes can cause serious health problems. Let’s take a minute and see what these chemicals are; Naphthalene was first registered as a pesticide in 1948. There is just carpet upstairs that we can replace, and hopefully once they move out the smell would dissipate, but they want to rent back for 45 days. Removing the mothball smell from your home and clothes can be a challenge. In April 1982, the Clark County Health Department in Jeffersonville, Indiana, received a telephone call from a 26-year-old woman whose friends were becoming ill with symptoms of headache, nausea, and vomiting while visiting her apartment. Naphthalene mothballs can take many months for the odor to go away while p-DCB usually evaporates away within a month. On 2019-02-18 - by (mod) - minimum mothball odor exposure to cause health problems . However, if it's coming from your kitchen, bathroom, or basement, you may have a serious problem on your hands. Both are used in high concentrations in the making of mothball products. Mothballs are actually pesticides with potentially dangerous chemicals that release the odor into your home. Illness Associated with Exposure to Naphthalene in Mothballs -- Indiana . If you smell mothballs, you are being exposed to these chemicals. Mothballs are labeled only for use in closed containers for the control of clothes moths. There are a number of ways to eliminate animal pests from the garden without using mothballs. Mothballs are a pesticide no ifs, ands or buts! People are exposed to the chemicals in mothballs by inhaling the fumes. Both chemicals are solid at room temperature but produce very strong vapors. Removing the mothballs and tackling the odor based on the type of material that's affected helps you breathe easier. ... How dangerous is it really of the moth balls/ carpet is gone but the smell lingers? The effects of naphthalene poisoning are particularly severe in infants and young children. Unfortunately there's not a simple right answer to it the way you phrase it. Mothball breath is named that because your breath will have a musty, benzene-like smell to it that is often related to mothballs. Moth balls contain a highly toxic substance called naphthalene. Close. Hazards are minimal when you avoid using chemicals and poisons. While plenty of people use mothballs to repel moths in clothing and stored carpets and to keep pests out of the house or garden, they're a health hazard for kids for several reasons. Mothballs are sold as flakes or pressed into cakes. Alternatives to Mothballs. We have two young kids. The chemicals in mothballs are toxic to humans and pets. In some cases, though, it is possible that the mothball breath is noticed right away. ... but the house smells strongly of moth balls. Extended exposure to mothballs can also cause liver and kidney damage. Put out a bowl of vinegar or coffee grounds to help absorb the odor. MOTHBALL smell. The smell of moth balls is exceptionally strong in the hallway of my apartment complex...is it harmful. Charcoal will soak up odors as well and help remove the moth ball smell. Here are the following information about mothballs we gathered from the internet: ” Mothballs are made of white crystals of two very dangerous chemicals, para-dichlorobenzene (1,4-dichlorobenzene) and/or naphthalene. Moth balls contain either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene – both of which become a gas when exposed to air, releasing that signature, pungent mothball odor.