Aerosol Insecticides
/G=Loyd/S=Wix/OU=1890CHPI/O=TMGB.URC/@LANGATE.gb.sprint.com
Tue, 13 Feb 1996 08:17:00 -0500
From Loyd.Wix@URCGB.SPRINT.COM
Aerosol insecticides (or other aerosol treatments used on
plants) should be handled with care, and I am not surprised
that this stuff killed Tobys Drosera.
The aerosol is a pressurised container, and when the button
is depressed some of the contents are ejected from the can.
As this material is vented to atmospheric pressure it
rapidly expands and cools. In addition liquid aerosol
propellants are converted to a vapour with the associated
latent heat coming from the surrounding environment. ( Think
of the cooling effect of solvants like alcohol or acetone
evaporating off your skin).
Thus if these materials are sprayed at close range on to
quite small plants they have the effect of freezing them. So
death is not due to the toxicity of the insecticide but due
to the cold!
Regards
Loyd