Miracle Insect Chalk

[Dave]

I heard of it before, and then today I bought some. Three little boxes at Salvation Army for 38 cents, at the Half-Off Sale. I'm not sure if it works or not but I have used some of it. I can't quite figure out how it kills insects but is harmless to humans.

They do empasize "Wash hands"

. The chalk will not produce pollution. Harmless to human being or animal. Just wah your hands with water after handling the chalk.

Safety

Regarding the safety it's 100% safe and do not cause any harm to human beings even though it's touched with naked hands. After the usage of the chalk one should compulsorily wash his hands. Keep away from children's reach and touch.

After the people next door moved, they called the exterminators and gassed the place, and some bugs have started showing up around my sink.
I don't want to use a bug bomb, because I am sure that the fumes don't really become harmless so fast, and my apartment has poor circulation anyway.

So I'm trying the Miracle Insect Chalk from China. We'll see.

 

[Kewpie]

One of the reasons I don't like living in hot climate is insects.
I don't want to get mosquite bites, the worst thing is cockroaches.

Hope miracle insect chalk is useful and you won't see bugs in your sink.

 

[Dave]

Me too! I lived in Tucson, Arizona for a few months long ago. It was very hot, Summer, and the bugs there made my skin crawl. Phoenix, Arizona was bad too. I worked at a restaurant, and I didn't see them inside, but at night there would be HUGE beetles and cockroaches iin the parking lot. It was hard not to walk on them there were so many.

Some strange hissing bugs too.

And cicadas! I had this cat that would catch them, and bring them inside. they would get loose of course and fly around and she would run over everything trying to catch them. They are worse than cockroaches because they fly and make noise, and they will fly right into you, especially when being chased by a cat.

A cicada, worse than a cockroach.

 

[Kewpie]

Cicadas!

I was very surprised to hear their noise in Rome last year.
It's common in Japan, I don't think they're worse than cockroaches.
They're noisy during the day, but harmless. Unlike cockroaches they don't crawl inside the building.
Some Japanese friends who live in UK say they miss cicadas in summer, I recommend them to visit Italy.

 

[joanofarcswalkman]

What is pesticide chalk?
A white chalk that is made in China. It comes in small packages bearing names such as:

* Miraculous insecticide chalk
* Pesticide chalk
* Chinese chalk
* Pretty Baby chalk
* Miracle chalk
* Mr. Roach chalk
* Insecticide chalk


It has the same appearance as safe chalk used in classrooms, but contains deltamethrin and/or cypermethrin, dangerous pesticides that are illegal in the United States. Both pesticides are known to affect the nervous system.

Illegal Chinese Chalk comes in bright packages.


The chalk packages each have a drawing of an insect, and state in English that the chalk "kills cockroach and ant effectively. Harmless to human being and animal and safe to use."

Packages instruct consumers to draw lines on the floor to kill insects that crawl over the pesticide.

The product is ILLEGAL. Use of any unregistered and illegal pesticides may pose danger to you and your children.

You have no way of knowing what the ingredients are in an unregistered pesticide, or how dangerous it is.


What are the possible health effects of pesticide chalk?
A serious problem with pesticide chalk is that it can be mistaken for common blackboard chalk. Children may be poisoned by handling chalk, crawling on floor surfaces treated with this chalk, or by putting chalk in their mouth.

Poison Control Centers nationwide received 668 calls involving pesticide chalk between 1992 and 1995. Of these, 94% of the cases were from eaten chalk, and 87% involved children under age six.

Overexposure to this chalk can produce serious health effects, especially in children, including vomiting, stomach pains, convulsions, tremors, coma, and death due to respiratory failure.

Of the nine child exposures in Illinois during 1997-1999, no one was seriously ill but experienced vomiting and other minor symptoms. Nationwide, between 1992 - 1996 there were 805 reported poisonings due to the chalk, most involving children under age six who had eaten the chalk. There were probably many more unreported cases. The only known serious incident occurred in California in 1994 (a child found unconscious after swallowed a piece of the chalk), but on record there is also a child in State of Michigan who ate 1/2 of the chalk and was hospitalized in 1992. Several children have been hospitalized after eating the chalk.

According to a rat experiment, one stick of the chalk is capable of killing a child with oral exposure; however, children are likely to throw it up. So, it may not be as deadly as it seems.

Serious allergic reactions are also possible.

In addition, analysis of the colorful packaging has found high levels of lead and other heavy metals.


How is pesticide chalk being sold?
The problem was first discovered in New York in 1986. Since then the illegal sale of pesticide chalk has been discovered in many states, and Canada. It has mostly been sold in small ethnic grocery stores and hardware stores, swap meets, beauty supply shops, and flea markets. It has also been advertised in some newspapers and over the Internet.

Chinese Chalk sold in ethnic grocery store.



Why is pesticide chalk illegal?
The product is an unregistered pesticide. The ingredients and packaging have not been reviewed and approved by the USEPA. The illegal pesticide chalk shows no signs it is made with any quality control. Its active ingredient in confiscated samples varies among chalk sticks from low to highly toxic.


Has anyone been arrested for selling pesticide chalk?
Chinese chalk collected as evidence.

* Yes. Kim Yanghu, owner of Kim's Oriental Grocery in Indianapolis, was caught selling the illegal chalk in his store. The distribution, display, sale, or offer to sell illegal pesticide products is a federal offense. Mr. Yanghu's penalty could be a fine of up to $10,000.

* Three men were arrested for selling the chalk in Chicago:

o David W. Lau, owner of Sun Sun Tong
o Jimmie L. Wallace, manager of Dollars & Sense
o Abdulrazak I. Bhim, owner of A-1 Dollar Plus

The three are charged with unlawful distribution of an unregistered pesticide, a Class A misdemeanor. Class a misdemeanors are punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

* In November 1998, the USEPA ordered the manufacturer of Pretty Baby Chalk of Pomona, California, to stop selling the unregistered product to consumers and schools on the Internet and in newspaper advertisements.


What is being doing about the problem?
USEPA and state pesticide agencies have:

* Conducted many marketplace inspections

* Issued numerous stop-sale orders

* Taken enforcement actions

* Issued press releases

* Conducted outreach to educate the public

* Made joint efforts with US Customs Office to prevent imports into the US

* Civil penalties can be up to $5,500 per violation.

* Criminal penalties can be up to $27,500 or 1 year jail time or both

This Chinese Chalk is hidden among other items.

The US Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for enforcement of product-related violations, while the states are responsible for enforcement of pesticide misuse.

 

[Hellie]

Miracle Insect chalk is murder.Nuff said.

I always escort my bugs off the premises -even if they are big and hairy.

 

[Dave]

It's true about killing bugs, I would rather not. I allow spiders and let them take care of the mosquitoes.

I didn't know this Insect Chalk was such a big deal. You can buy it online. Maybe they send you regular blackboard chalk. I did feel strange after I used it. Maybe I should wear gloves next time.

 

[Not Right in the Head]

I've never heard of "insect chalk," but it sounds like what you're looking for is diatomaceous earth, which is ground, fossilized diatoms. It's made up mostly of silicon, which acts as a microabrasive that kills bugs by abrading their exoskeletons and essentially dehydrating them. It's safe for humans and pets (as long as you don't breathe it in while applying it), and you probably consume a microscopic amount any time you eat anything made from grains. I was just looking at this stuff a couple weeks ago to use in the basement, around the foundation, and under the porches to get rid of crickets, roaches, and silverfish, which are, in turn, attracting other vermin.

This is where I'm going to order some from, because I can't find any in stores around here. It looks like a good, small, independent company.

 

[Dave]

This is what I bought. I have 3 packs, for a total of 6 sticks.

 

[The Seeker of Good Songs]

I don't know where you live so this info may or may not be of use to you.

You can buy diatomaceous earth at any (swimming) pool supply store.
A 20 pound bag is like $8-10 or so (don't know exactly but it is cheap). It is used a filter material.
If you go to a greenhouse/nursery you should be able to get it also but it costs more there. It is used as a soil amendment (I think that is the word) when transplanting plants/flowers.

I've never heard of "insect chalk," but it sounds like what you're looking for is diatomaceous earth, which is ground, fossilized diatoms. It's made up mostly of silicon, which acts as a microabrasive that kills bugs by abrading their exoskeletons and essentially dehydrating them. It's safe for humans and pets (as long as you don't breathe it in while applying it), and you probably consume a microscopic amount any time you eat anything made from grains. I was just looking at this stuff a couple weeks ago to use in the basement, around the foundation, and under the porches to get rid of crickets, roaches, and silverfish, which are, in turn, attracting other vermin.

This is where I'm going to order some from, because I can't find any in stores around here. It looks like a good, small, independent company.

 

[Not Right in the Head]

I don't know where you live so this info may or may not be of use to you.

You can buy diatomaceous earth at any (swimming) pool supply store.
A 20 pound bag is like $8-10 or so (don't know exactly but it is cheap). It is used a filter material.
If you go to a greenhouse/nursery you should be able to get it also but it costs more there. It is used as a soil amendment (I think that is the word) when transplanting plants/flowers.

Thanks for the tip! There is a pool store just blocks away from me. I knew that diatomaceous earth used to be (is still?) a popular filtration medium for aquariums, but I had no idea that it was also used for pools. I've been looking only at gardening centers.

 

[joanofarcswalkman]

This is what I bought. I have 3 packs, for a total of 6 sticks.

That is the very same picture and product from the website i got the info that i posted

 

[Alcoholic Afternoons]

That is the very same picture and product from the website i got the info that i posted

I have that exact stuff. It's freakin' awesome at kiling ants, etc. Scares the heck out of me to use and I keep it in the garage inside a plastic bag, but I bring it out when needed. Then I wash my hands in scalding water for a really long time.

I love and fear that stuff.

 

[PregnantForTheLastTime]

If you have ants, the best thing is the semi transparent plastic puck-style traps. They contain a little dish of peanut butter with an insecticide in it. It's safe for kids and pets, they can't really get to it anyway. I put a little double-stick tape down on the floor to hold it down so my dogs don't move them around from where I need them. We always get those tiny ants near our back door, and in a particular corner of the laundry room when it rains a lot. These things work great- usually all ants are gone within 24 hours. I've bought the same thing under various brand names, but one I recall is Zep. Hardware store.

For roaches and silverfish, you do the boric acid powder. You can mix into homemade play-doh, or put it in envelopes and put it where you find the silverfish since they like paper. I've never had roaches, but I've had trouble with silverfish since I lived in a certain apartment for several years.

 

[Dave]

That is the very same picture and product from the website i got the info that i posted

 

[joanofarcswalkman]

nah dave just needs to be a little less ANALytical , my point was the image on the site i lifted the c&p i posted from had the very same item pictured I personally think its ok for you to shred it in your bed and sleep in it Dave

 

[Dave]

nah dave just needs to be a little less ANALytical , my point was the image on the site i lifted the c&p i posted from had the very same item pictured I personally think its ok for you to shred it in your bed and sleep in it Dave

why the eyeroll, then?

and it's obviously not the very same picture.

 

[joanofarcswalkman]

why the eyeroll, then?

and it's obviously not the very same picture.

you have way too much time on your idle hands , perhaps a hobby involving something other than trolling the 'net all day and night might help you readjust to an acceptable everyday societal regime

 

[Dave]

First I am a liar, and then I should roll around in poison, and now I'm a troll. And this is all because of ...

 

[joanofarcswalkman]

First I am a liar, and then I should roll around in poison, and now I'm a troll. And this is all because of ...

Flame Off Davey