Alternatives to POP Termiticides for Construction
Prevention (and repairs)     Control
Non-chemical	Chemical	Non-chemical	Chemical
Building design Site preparation Construction practices Physical barriers Resistant materials Inspections and maintenance	Timber products treated with preservatives Termiticides in soil and other carriers Inspections and maintenance	Biological control Thermal control Nest destruction	Fumigation Termiticides in soil and other carriers Baits Nest destruction

Building Design / Site Preparation / Inspections & Maintenance

At the time of designing a building/structure termite management measures (choice of method, selection of system(s) and materials etc.) have to be decided and incorporated into the design. Adequate site preparations are the next pre-requisite for minimising termite risk. After the construction is complete, regular inspections for termite presence and possible breach of any barrier system coupled with maintenance and repairs of the building are important measures to reduce the chances of termite damage.

Determination of the termite pest(s) (subterranean, arboreal, drywood etc.) is necessary before acting on the information in this table. Many of the management methods mentioned may not be commercially available for your country/locality and effectiveness and safety information also may not be available.

Determination of the termite pest(s) (subterranean, arboreal, drywood etc.) is necessary before acting on the information in this table.  Many of the management methods mentioned may not be commercially available for your country/locality and effectiveness and safety information also may not be available.

Physical Barriers

These are installed before and during construction, or for repairs afterwards. For existing constructions, maintaining integrity of barrier systems and regular inspections are essential. All physical barriers in this table apply to subterranean termites.  The above barriers do not apply to drywood termites. Physical barriers placed (below the super structure) to prevent termite entry from the soil have limited to no effects on arboreal and subterranean aerial nesters  

Determination of the termite pest(s) (subterranean, arboreal,, drywood etc.) is necessary before acting on the information in this table. 

Many of the management methods mentioned may not be commercially available for your country/locality and effectiveness and safety information also may not be available.

Resistant Materials

Resistant materials and or treated wood should be used for structural elements, before and during construction, or for repairs afterwards.

Determination of the termite pest(s) (subterranean, arboreal, drywood etc.) is necessary before acting on the information in this table.  Many of the management methods mentioned may not be commercially available for your country/locality and effectiveness and safety information also may not be available.

Timber products treated with Preservatives

Resistant materials and/or treated wood should be used for structural elements or for repairs afterwards. Priority should be given to wood which may be directly accessible to termites. These days there is increased use of panel products and other composites, often containing various pesticides in the product. The preservatives cited apply to all wood-feeding termites.

According to the latest version of the Australian Standard AS1604 (several parts, 2004-2005), different treatments should be used according to:

• the timber product: sawn and round timber, reconstituted wood–based products (i.e. particle board etc.), plywood or laminated veneer timber
• specific service conditions: protected from wetting and leaching, or, subject to periodic/severe/extreme wetting and leaching.

* Copper-arsenic complex Paris Green is Ib highly hazardous according to WHO, http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/pesticides_hazard_rev_3.pdf
Arsenic compounds are group I carcinogens according to IARC,
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/crthall.php
According to US EPA, the USA Environmental Protection Agency:  “Effective December 31, 2003, no wood treater or manufacturer may treat wood with CCA for residential uses, with certain exceptions.” Source: http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/
CCA was phased out for residential uses, but still available for commercial applications (defined in AWPA Standards book). Common current use would be utility poles and cross arms, but could still be found, for example, in material used in an all-wood foundation.

** see http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/4081fact.pdf  or http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/old_reds/4081red.pdf

*** Because of environmental persistency and toxicity, most of the uses of creosote have been restricted or banned in many parts of the world. Creosote is group 2A: probably carcinogenic to humans according to IARC, reference see *. For example US EPA has not registered it for residential uses, http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/creosote_prelim_risk_assess.htm

Creosote is still commonly used in US for railroad ties and utility poles (industrial / commercial applications). This includes straight creosote and creosote / oil mixtures. The better quality railroad ties coming out of service can be found in landscape supply outlets, and purchased for residential use. Lower quality ties are sometimes burned in biomass co-gen facilities.

**** see WHO recommended classification of hazard, http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/pesticides_hazard_rev_3.pdf
Ib highly hazardous,  II moderately hazardous, LD 50 for the rat, mg/kg. The true hazard depends on the formulation. c: value within a wider than usual range.

*****According to WHO reference above, Arsenous oxide and  tributyltin oxide are obs. = obsolete as pesticide and not classified. This may not be the case everywhere, however, for example they can still be used legally in Australia (by licensed pest control companies).

Arsenic compounds are Group I carcinogens according to IARC.
http://www-cie.iarc.fr/monoeval/crthall.html
An IMO (International Maritime Organisation) Resolution recommends Governments phase out Bis (tributyl)tin oxide (TBT) antifouling paint on ships, because of its effects on marine life and non-target molluscs in particular.

Determination of the termite pest(s) (subterranean, arboreal, drywood etc.) is necessary before acting on the information in this table.  Termites, especially subterranean termites, might also build foraging tubes over or around and along cracks within the chemically treated wood to areas not so treated. Many of the management methods mentioned may not be commercially available for your country/locality and effectiveness and safety information also may not be available.

The chemicals listed should be used with care, according to instructions on the label, by certified applicators, in view of protecting the environment, applicators and inhabitants/users of the structures.
The chemicals listed should be used in accordance with local legislation and regulations. There is not always WHO information on hazards for these chemicals. Some wood treatments require the use of pressurized chambers. Disposal of treated wood during construction or renovations and possible harmful effects to the public and environment are additional issues to consider when using this termite management strategy.
           
There are many variables to consider when choosing wood preservative-treated materials, most important is whether their use is interior, exterior, or in-ground contact. The specifications for the timber product should be read carefully to ensure proper usage.
           
Wood preservatives are most toxic to termites when ingested. In the case of drywood termites, treated timber may also discourage new kings and queens (alates) from establishing colonies. Pressure treatment is always favoured over topical applications when using any wood preservative. Care should be taken when using wood preservatives to ensure that all exposed wood is treated. This includes spot (local) applications at construction sites where lumber is cut or drilled for fasteners.
Laboratory test procedures for determining the biocidal efficacy of wood preservatives for use in Australasia can be found on:
http://www.tpaa.com.au/files/AWPC%20protocols.pdf

Termiticides in Soil or Other Carriers

They are best applied before and during construction, but can also be done, usually less successfully, after construction.
           
It is also possible to treat only specified areas to form chemical barriers, e.g. around pipe penetrations and along expansion joints. Chemical barriers can also be combined with other barrier systems (e.g. designed concrete slab as a physical barrier, and chemical perimeter barrier etc.)
           
The chemicals listed should be used with care, according to instructions on the label, preferably by certified applicators, in view of protecting the environment, applicators and inhabitants/users of the structures.
           
The chemicals listed should be used in accordance with local legislation and regulations.
           
The WHO hazard class is indicated below. Avoid contaminating water, e.g. do not treat areas having layers of gravel or with cracked soil (during droughts).

*  Ib highly hazardous, II moderately hazardous, LD 50 for the rat, mg/kg. The true hazard depends on the formulation. c: value within a wider than usual range. source: The WHO
recommended classification of hazard, http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/pesticides_hazard_rev_3.pdf

** The EPA is phasing out use of chlorpyrifos (dursban) as a termiticide for residential use because of risks to children. http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op/chlorpyrifos/consumerqs.htm#1

Determination of the termite pest(s) (subterranean, arboreal, drywood etc.) is necessary before acting on the information in this table.  Soil treatments can be breached and bridged by subterranean termites.  Chemical barriers placed (below the super structure) to prevent termite entry from the soil have limited to no effects on arboreal and subterranean aerial nesters

Biological control

Is experimental, and applied mostly to subterranean and arboreal nesting termites, after construction.

Determination of the termite pest(s) (subterranean, arboreal, drywood etc.) is necessary before acting on the information in this table.  The management methods mentioned may not be available for your country/locality or only at an experimental stage and effectiveness and safety information also may not be available.

Thermal control

Apply mostly to drywood, aerial and arboreal nesting termites, after construction.

Determination of the termite pest(s) (subterranean, arboreal, drywood etc.) is necessary before acting on the information in this table.  Many of the management methods mentioned may not be commercially available for your country/locality and effectiveness and safety information also may not be available.

Nest destruction

Traditional methods of nest destruction include flooding termite nests with water, or removal of nests or queens by hand.
Termiticides can also be applied to nests, see termiticides used in soil treatment.

Fumigation

This strategy is employed after construction to deal with drywood termites, aerial colonies of subterranean termites and cases where arboreal species nest inside structures. Fumigation could also be used for treatment of soil or various wastes containing termites.

*Consumption should be reduced to zero, see article 2H of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer.

Determination of the termite pest(s) (subterranean, aerial, arboreal, drywood etc.) is necessary before acting on the information in this table.  Many of the management methods mentioned may not be commercially available for your country/locality and effectiveness and safety information also may not be available.

Baits

They are applied after construction in order to deal with active termite infestations. With this method far less pesticides are used (limited amounts at restricted targeted positions) than with traditional soil treatments. The most commonly used actives in baits are moult (or chitin synthesis) inhibitors targeting a process which is specific to insects. Baits come in two forms: in-ground baits for use around structures and above-ground baits for use inside structures.

*  II moderately hazardous, III = slightly hazardous; U = unlikely to present acute hazard in normal use; LD 50 for the rat, mg/kg. The true hazard depends on the formulation. Source: The WHO recommended classification of hazard, http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/pesticides_hazard_rev_3.pdf

** According to WHO reference* above, arsenous oxide is obs. = obsolete or discontinued. This may not be the case everywhere, however, for example it can still be used legally in Australia (by licensed pest control companies), see also Australian Standard on Termite management, 2000.
Arsenic compounds are Group I carcinogens according to IARC.
http://www-cie.iarc.fr/monoeval/crthall.html

Determination of the termite pests (subterranean, arboreal, drywood etc.) is necessary before acting on the information in this table. There are no commercially available baits for drywood termites, and insufficient data for arboreal nesters. Many of the management methods mentioned may not be commercially available for your country/locality and effectiveness and safety information also may not be available.