Development of techniques to increase the efficiency of methyl bromide fumigations

Abstract

A new microprocessor-controlled dosing system to fumigate flour mills with methyl bromide against insect pests has been developed and tested at the Central Science Laboratory. Subsequently two flour mills were fumigated. The first mill was treated in the traditional way, using an initial dose with manual topping up whenever the concentration of fumigant fell too low to achieve the required concentration-time product (CTP). This was done to obtain comparative data. The second mill, following a smaller initial dose was placed under the control of the new dosing system.

The microprocessor-controlled automated dosing system showed promise as a more efficient means of fumigating flour mills by enabling CTPs sufficient to control pest species to be achieved more reliably and at the same time using less methyl bromide than was previously possible.