What are mothballs made of?
Mothballs are made of white crystals of two very dangerous chemicals, para-dichlorobenzene (1,4-dichlorobenzene) and/or naphthalene. Both chemicals are solid at room temperature but produce very strong vapors. Mothballs are sold as flakes or pressed into cakes. Both of these chemicals are fumigants and must be present in high concentration to be effective, and this is the problem. Concentrations high enough to be effective for pest control can be dangerous for anyone exposed to them.
