What is in moth balls? Is it harmful to people?
Clothes moths can be a real problem in clothes made from natural fibers (especially wool). There are two different types of moth balls used to combat the moths. In one type, the main ingredient is naphthalene, and in the other it is paradichlorobenzene. The idea with both chemicals is to kill moths and moth larvae with the fumes . Both naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene sublimate , meaning they transition from a solid straight to a gas. The gas is toxic to the moths. For either of these chemicals to be effective, they need to be placed with the clothing in a sealed container so the fumes can build up and kill the moths. In a sealed atmosphere like this, the fumes are not harmful to people because they are contained. The main threat would occur when opening the containers, or from wearing clothes immediately after opening (especially a problem for infants). A solution is to open the containers outside and let the clothes hang and air out for a day before wearing. We all seem to have an
