What is a key disadvantage of fumigants?

A key disadvantage of fumigants is that they must be contained to prevent human exposure. Fumigants are highly volatile substances that can disperse rapidly into the air, posing significant risks to human health if inhaled. Therefore, it is crucial to control their release and ensure that areas being treated are securely sealed off from people until it is safe to enter again. This requirement for containment adds complexity to the application process and necessitates stringent safety protocols to protect both workers and the public from potential exposure.

While fumigants can be costly and may have other characteristics like being water soluble or effective against pests, the essential concern is their potential toxicity to humans and the necessity for strict containment measures to mitigate this risk. Hence, addressing the need for safety and containment is a vital consideration when using fumigants in vector control and pest management.