The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) throws light on the use and also the abuse of Naphthalene balls in Ghana. This substance sometimes referred to as mothballs are white volatile small balls that are used either as a pesticide or insecticide. They may be used indoors or outdoors depending on what the user wants to use them on.
Naphthalene balls are either obtained from coal tar or petroleum distillation. When naphthalene sublimes, it produces a pungent odour which is toxic to the moth and other insects.
Under the mandate of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), naphthalene balls are classified as a household chemical substance for repelling insects.
However, it has come to their notice that part of the public use naphthalene to purify drinking water, cure stomach ache, measles and diarrhoea. This form of usage other than using to repel insects may be detrimental to the user’s health.
Therefore the public is strongly advised to desist from such acts. Research indeed has shown that such application of naphthalene has severe health consequences on consumers. It has been proven that long term Exposure to Naphthalene balls can result in severe anaemia, respiratory disorder, headache, nausea, jaundice, sweating, abdominal pains, eye and nose irritation and other serious disorders.
Moreover, the continuous release of these into water bodies can have dire consequences on aquatic life.
By: Debbie – TOT, KNUST.