Mothballs the real story.
After reading the post on mothballs recently I decided to check with a business acquaintance for the real facts. Sorry for the long post but I did not want to edit his response.
MOTHBALLS
The Real Story….
I owned the second largest Mothball Manufacturing Company in the U.S. Four years ago I sold it.
People would always say things like “Wow, I always wondered where they came from/who made them”
Without boring you with details of how and why, I founded a manufacturing company in 1995. We produced room deodorizers, air fresheners, toilet bowl products, glue traps for insects and rodents – and of course our primary product Mothballs.
So, to help set the record straight –
Mothballs were made from Camphor in the early 1900’s
Naphthalene became the material of choice in the 1940’s
Para dichlorobenzene came on scene in the early 1990’s.
The government (EPA) threatened to ban Naphthalene and the few of us left manufacturing them scrambled to find an alternative material with the proven efficacy. California went so far (left as usual) to ban Naphtha, even though the Federal government did not. Ironically, the Federal Government dropped its bid to ban Naphtha when the Defense Dept. reminded everyone that Naphthalene is a major ingredient for “Bluing” (Material that is applied to all guns when manufactured).
Since 1990, mothballs have been made from both “Para” and “Naphtha”
“Old Fashion” is a specific brand name used by Willert Home Products, for their Naphtha type mothballs.
They are the only U.S. Manufacturer left supplying mothballs – they finally outsourced their manufacture to Viet Nam several years back.
All RAW “Para” and “Naphtha” material comes from China or India.
All Finished Goods (Mothballs) come from there also.
Mothballs do not kill Moths. (Unless your aim is good and you can hit one in mid flight with a ball).
“Camphor”, “Naphtha” and “Para” all have two things in common –
1) They Do Not Kill Moths
2) They sublimate. They go from a solid state to a gaseous state without having to pass first through a liquid state.
The vapors from sublimation leave a “film” on natural materials that Prevent Moths and their Larva from eating the material (making holes). No Moth ever died from eating any of the three basic chemicals. The chemicals prevent Moths and their offspring from eating the natural materials.
The Federal EPA only allows manufacturers to “Claim” that the basic chemicals “Kills, Repels or Deters Moths”. They do not support or even allow Mothballs to claim this for ANY OTHER LIVING THING.
Sales of Mothballs in Home and Garden Departments do indicate that mothballs surely deter and repel, (not kill) all other living creatures from gardens. (Deer, raccoon, squirrels, mice, skunks, dogs, etc.) But, the EPA won’t let that claim be made on the box.
There are long term chronic effects from inhaling Mothballs. I personally wound up each winter with longer and more severe colds than usual. I only realized this from not having the company any longer and being away from those gaseous vapors.
In mothball form, there are not enough gases to kill a human. The basic chemicals can be heated and melted – in that form, the vapors emitted from liquefied material are exponentially potent. Those vapors can be lethal. In an enclosed space, you will die from lack of oxygen.
As for the smell – “Naphtha” versions of mothballs have the most pungent and lasting odor. Next comes “Camphor”, then “Para.” All three versions can smell less offensive if you get the cedar scented product.
Cedar masks the smell a little. Fresh Air really is the only way reduce or eliminate the odor. Most people use way too much in the way of moth preventatives. An airtight, closed drawer of chest only needs 2-3 mothballs (or a teaspoon of moth flakes) to prevent clothing from being eaten.
In 20 years of business, I twice received phone calls from pregnant women who for some reason developed a craving to eat mothballs.
People would always ask, “how’s business”? Without a hesitation I would always say “It Stinks”.
MOTHBALLS
The Real Story….
I owned the second largest Mothball Manufacturing Company in the U.S. Four years ago I sold it.
People would always say things like “Wow, I always wondered where they came from/who made them”
Without boring you with details of how and why, I founded a manufacturing company in 1995. We produced room deodorizers, air fresheners, toilet bowl products, glue traps for insects and rodents – and of course our primary product Mothballs.
So, to help set the record straight –
Mothballs were made from Camphor in the early 1900’s
Naphthalene became the material of choice in the 1940’s
Para dichlorobenzene came on scene in the early 1990’s.
The government (EPA) threatened to ban Naphthalene and the few of us left manufacturing them scrambled to find an alternative material with the proven efficacy. California went so far (left as usual) to ban Naphtha, even though the Federal government did not. Ironically, the Federal Government dropped its bid to ban Naphtha when the Defense Dept. reminded everyone that Naphthalene is a major ingredient for “Bluing” (Material that is applied to all guns when manufactured).
Since 1990, mothballs have been made from both “Para” and “Naphtha”
“Old Fashion” is a specific brand name used by Willert Home Products, for their Naphtha type mothballs.
They are the only U.S. Manufacturer left supplying mothballs – they finally outsourced their manufacture to Viet Nam several years back.
All RAW “Para” and “Naphtha” material comes from China or India.
All Finished Goods (Mothballs) come from there also.
Mothballs do not kill Moths. (Unless your aim is good and you can hit one in mid flight with a ball).
“Camphor”, “Naphtha” and “Para” all have two things in common –
1) They Do Not Kill Moths
2) They sublimate. They go from a solid state to a gaseous state without having to pass first through a liquid state.
The vapors from sublimation leave a “film” on natural materials that Prevent Moths and their Larva from eating the material (making holes). No Moth ever died from eating any of the three basic chemicals. The chemicals prevent Moths and their offspring from eating the natural materials.
The Federal EPA only allows manufacturers to “Claim” that the basic chemicals “Kills, Repels or Deters Moths”. They do not support or even allow Mothballs to claim this for ANY OTHER LIVING THING.
Sales of Mothballs in Home and Garden Departments do indicate that mothballs surely deter and repel, (not kill) all other living creatures from gardens. (Deer, raccoon, squirrels, mice, skunks, dogs, etc.) But, the EPA won’t let that claim be made on the box.
There are long term chronic effects from inhaling Mothballs. I personally wound up each winter with longer and more severe colds than usual. I only realized this from not having the company any longer and being away from those gaseous vapors.
In mothball form, there are not enough gases to kill a human. The basic chemicals can be heated and melted – in that form, the vapors emitted from liquefied material are exponentially potent. Those vapors can be lethal. In an enclosed space, you will die from lack of oxygen.
As for the smell – “Naphtha” versions of mothballs have the most pungent and lasting odor. Next comes “Camphor”, then “Para.” All three versions can smell less offensive if you get the cedar scented product.
Cedar masks the smell a little. Fresh Air really is the only way reduce or eliminate the odor. Most people use way too much in the way of moth preventatives. An airtight, closed drawer of chest only needs 2-3 mothballs (or a teaspoon of moth flakes) to prevent clothing from being eaten.
In 20 years of business, I twice received phone calls from pregnant women who for some reason developed a craving to eat mothballs.
People would always ask, “how’s business”? Without a hesitation I would always say “It Stinks”.
