Underground market for cheap pest control endangering lives

Dubai The black market for cheap and unlicensed home pest control services is endangering lives, experts reiterated after a series of deaths from suspected poisoning in the UAE.

They echoed warnings against hiring illegal operators and using toxins banned for home use after four fatalities in as many weeks.

The victims all females: a baby, toddler, young girl, and a woman died between June 1 and July 1 after neighbouring residences were treated with chemicals unfit for domestic purposes, officials said.

Deadly gases released in the incidents had spread to the victims homes. A number of other tenants were hospitalised, some in serious condition, sources told Gulf News.

Many others have died or fallen ill in similar circumstances over the years.

In the latest incident this month, five suspects who allegedly supplied the toxins were arrested in Sharjah. And on Tuesday officials revealed several Dubai companies were recently shut down for allegedly using chemicals prohibited for home pest control.

Among the toxins banned for home use is aluminium phosphide, known in the underground market as bomb for its strength. It is used in tablet form, which releases a potentially lethal gas when exposed to air.

Officials and licensed pest control companies said the chemical is only allowed for industrial use in strictly-controlled circumstances by trained professionals, mainly in the fumigation of stored grains.

But some rouges use it in apartments, it releases a highly toxic gas, said Dinesh Ramachandran, technical director, National Pest Control.

He added that dodgy operators use or sell it at low cost to lure business from residents.

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Underground market for cheap pest control endangering lives