There are environmentally safe ways to prevent termite infestations.
Many termite-treatment chemicals used by the pest-control industry in the past have been discontinued due to public concerns. Chlordane, lindane and a variety of other chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds have been voluntarily banned in favor of more environmentally safe solutions. Government and industry researchers continue to work on developing environmentally safe ways to control termites. Does this Spark an idea?
Sand Barriers
One approach to environmentally safe termite treatment is the use of physical barriers to discourage and prevent infestations. Recent studies by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, the regulatory entity for pesticide use) have focused on this aspect of termite treatment.
Laboratory research at the USDA's Southern Forest Experiment Station in Gulfport, Mississippi, found that sand barriers can help deter termites, because termites are unable to dig through sand. The researchers placed 16-grit sand around foundation piers and next to foundation walls. Trenching around slab foundations and filling these with the same grade of sand will prevent termites from reaching the wood framing of a building.
Concrete and Metal Barriers
One way termites gain access to a building is through contact with the soil. Using concrete to create a break between foundation piers, exterior siding and support posts for decks and patios has been part of the pest-control industry's arsenal for many years. Aluminum flashing installed around these types of wooden structures can also prevent infestations, since metal also deters termite infestations.
Environmentally Safe Wood Treatment
A common way of preventing termite infestations is using pressure-treated wood for construction. Pressure treating involves using hydraulic pressure to permeate raw wood with chemicals. The ingredient used most often in the past was chromated copper arsenate, a highly toxic chemical that has found its way into water tables and soil content.
Borates have been used for many years in other parts of the world for pre-treating wood. These substances, derived from the mineral boron, have been found to be very low in toxicity and therefore environmentally safe to use. Wood soaked in a dilution of borate powder and distilled water acts as a deterrent to termites and other wood-eating insects, and a coat of preservative will contain the borate solution within the wood.
Using Organisms for Termite Treatment
One environmentally friendly way to control termites is to use living organisms that, in some cases, are natural enemies of termites. Nematodes, for example, have been used experimentally with a degree of success. These small worm-like organisms enter termite bodies through pore openings and leave bacteria that will kill the termite. A study conducted by an Australian entomologist, Michael Lenz, found that these organisms did produce positive results, as did certain species of fungi. Such termite-treatment methods have not yet provided any documented findings in real situations, however.
Other Environmentally Safe Methods
Moisture is one of the main attractions to termites, so keeping crawl spaces ventilated helps dissuade termites from invading a structure. Using a vapor barrier in these areas will also help. Additionally, keeping materials that are attractive to termites---such as firewood supplies and wood scraps---away from a building will help prevent future infestations.
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