One of the most common household pests is the powder post beetle and new government regulations mean that Americans may be spending an additional $145 million a year to eliminate it, according to one insecticide industry official. Arguing that less expensive methods can be substituted to save money, the Environmental Protection Agency cited industry figures to support their disputing such a claim.
A local pest control company’s vice president opined that the EPA’s decision to remove this popular pesticide from the market will make it much more expensive to treat for powder post beetles, and these costs will ultimately get passed on to consumers. He compared the insect to a termite and said that it infests as many as 140,000 homes in the country every year. In addition, he has stated that this banned pesticide could be used when the beetles come into the house, and by applying the pesticide in the needed areas, this guarantees that the household is beetle-free for one year. Now that the chemical operation that was both safe and effective has been banned, he goes on to say, only by fumigating the whole house can the problem be taken care of. Pest Controllers information is only a click away.
This would require for the resident to remain out of the home for awhile so that it could be filled with chemical gas. Additionally, the resident could end up paying anywhere from $1-2k as opposed to under 1k altogether, which is the general charge for a normal pesticide spraying. Claiming that the pesticide industry came out with a different pesticide that replaced the banned chemical for a comparable impact and expense, the EPA spokesman refuted the vice president’s expense claims. He has also stated that the powder post beetle presents only visual issues without bringing about any structural harm, unlike termites.
Even so, the EPA has sanctioned the use of a new substance to battle the problem, pentachlorophenol, which is very similarly priced to the now banned chemical and should also be effective. The American homeowner, therefore, need not anticipate much of an increase, if any, in the cost of this pesticide. Even the company who prduced the banned chemical and some members of the pest control association are in agreement with the findings of the EPA. The testimony can be tied to some hearings the agency held when they were deciding what course of action they would take regarding halting use of the chemical.
If the skeptics worst fears are realized, it could mean millions of extra dollars in pest control costs that are ultimately dumped off on the consumer to combat the powder post beetle. The owner of a local pest control company lamented that his company had successfully and safely used the now banned substance for more than 30 years, and now he is left with little other choice than to inform his customers that if they want to stop powder post beetles they will need to have treatments costing more than $1000. This owner also believe that the EPA hastily made a ruling without obtaining all of the facts in the case. He plainly states that the decision by the EPA was erroneous, but wonders how long a reversal will be hung up with public hearings and other road blocks.
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