Grow Room Pesticide Contamination, Need Fix

[Indica57]

Good Evening,

I have a grow room that has been contaminated by bifenthrin. My four week old vegetating plants were not sprayed but a family member disinfected the room with a pesticide containing this ingredient and then put the plants back in after an hour. They were in the room for six hours before I found out. The led lights,exhaust fan and filter, plus oscillating fan were on. After doing some research I am concerned that my coco and possibly the cannabis may be contaminated. Is there anything I can do to save my plants from being unhealthy to smoke? Thank you for your help, I've been pretty stressed and pissed by the incident.

 

[Smerb]

Bifenthrin is not at all toxic to plants
Bifenthrin is poorly soluble in water and often remains in soil. Its residual half-life in soil is between 7 days and 8 months, depending on the soil type, with a low mobility in most soil types. Bifenthrin has the longest known residual time in soil of insecticides currently on the market. It is a white, waxy solid with a faint sweet smell. It is chemically synthesized in various forms, including powder, granules and pellets. However, it is not naturally occurring
From Wikipedia, copy n paste. Never let anyone spray your plants.

 

[Indica57]

Bifenthrin is not at all toxic to plants
Bifenthrin is poorly soluble in water and often remains in soil. Its residual half-life in soil is between 7 days and 8 months, depending on the soil type, with a low mobility in most soil types. Bifenthrin has the longest known residual time in soil of insecticides currently on the market. It is a white, waxy solid with a faint sweet smell. It is chemically synthesized in various forms, including powder, granules and pellets. However, it is not naturally occurring
From Wikipedia, copy n paste. Never let anyone spray your plants.

I was away at the time, would never let anyone do anything to my plants. Put to much time into them for that. I grow in coco so not sure if that makes a difference. Did some research and saw the same thing. 7 days - 8 months, quite a spread. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[MissBotany]

Sorry this happened but I don’t think you’ll get the answer you’re looking for. The EPA classifies Bifenthrin as a possible human carcinogen. I cannot in good faith say this is safe to consume. Call the national pesticide center, they’ll have the most accurate information for you.

 

[Indica57]

I am looking for the truth, it may depend on the amount. This happened to be pretty low, .005%, I have read the environmental impact statement and there is nothing about eatable food. You're right though, may need to toss it. Thank you for your candor.

 

[Indica57]

I'll email the national pesticide center like you've suggested and see what they have to say. Thanks.

 

[MissBotany]

I am looking for the truth, it may depend on the amount. This happened to be pretty low, .005%, I have read the environmental impact statement and there is nothing about eatable food. You're right though, may need to toss it. Thank you for your candor.

I would stil call the NPIC To check. If ingested (and I’m assuming smoked) can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, vomiting to name a few. I personally wouldnt risk it. At least you weren’t close to harvest!

 

[MissBotany]

Just saw your post about email them. Can you update this once they get back to you?

 

[GT21]

Sorry this happened but I don’t think you’ll get the answer you’re looking for. The EPA classifies Bifenthrin as a possible human carcinogen. I cannot in good faith say this is safe to consume. Call the national pesticide center, they’ll have the most accurate information for you.

Possible.....a McDonald's cheeseburger will probably kill you faster. I love when people worry about what ifs... As they shove a snickers and coke down their gullet

 

[MissBotany]

Possible.....a McDonald's cheeseburger will probably kill you faster. I love when people worry about what ifs... As they shove a snickers and coke down their gullet

That’s why I referred him to the appropriate resource. They will be able to provide him with an accurate answer.

I personally don’t “shove a snickers and a coke down my gullet” which is why I said I wouldn’t risk the contamination. Maybe someone who eats fast food every day wouldn’t mind a little Bifenthrin with a side of shits and abdominal pain with their weed.

 

[GT21]

That’s why I referred him to the appropriate resource. They will be able to provide him with an accurate answer.

I personally don’t “shove a snickers and a coke down my gullet” which is why I said I wouldn’t risk the contamination. Maybe someone who eats fast food every day wouldn’t mind a little Bifenthrin with a side of shits and abdominal pain with their weed.

You should try it sometime....i freaking love coke and snickers.

 

[MissBotany]

And I grow medical, anxiety, to be specific so I always over worry about unnecessary stuff. But at least evolution has bettered my odds of survival!

You should try it sometime....i freaking love coke and snickers.

I prefer a dr. Pepper and a York peppermint patty :)

 

[Indica57]

Yes, I thought I'd let everyone know what I hear buck for informational purposes. If they write back :-)

 

[Indica57]

:-)

 

[Indica57]

This is a reply from the National Pesticide Information Center to an email I sent:

"Thank you for your email. As you might imagine, the potential risk from any pesticide is complex and situation specific. We would be happy to talk with you about that over the phone. At your convenience, please call us at 800-858-7378, Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:00am to 12:00pm Pacific Time to speak directly to a Pesticide Specialist.

Once a product has been given a chance to dry, it significantly decreases the risk to people and plants (like your cannabis) that may be in the area. Because the plants were not in the area at the time, the chances that the product may be on the plants would be reduced. Without knowing that it was dry in the area before the plants were returned, it would be difficult to determine if any kind of damage may have occurred. Despite this, bifenthrin is considered to be non-toxic to plants, and is not expected to be absorbed or moved throughout a plant. I have included additional information below.

Pesticides: What’s my Risk?
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/WhatsMyRisk.html

Minimizing Pesticide Risk
http://npic.orst.edu/health/minexp.html

Bifenthrin Technical Fact Sheet
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/archive/biftech.html#env

If possible, please consider having the EPA registration number or active ingredient(s) available for the Pesticide Specialist when you call. This information is located on the label and can be obtained from the pest control company."

 

[MissBotany]

That sounds like good news!

 

[MissBotany]

The fact sheet says it’s not absorbed by plants or translocated. So if it’s not absorbed by or passed through plants then there should very very little chance that you will ingest it. Have you decided what you’re going to do?

 

[Indica57]

The fact sheet says it’s not absorbed by plants or translocated. So if it’s not absorbed by or passed through plants then there should very very little chance that you will ingest it. Have you decided what you’re going to do?

Yes, I am going forward. There a few food testers for sale, may use on of those on the final product. I have also read that if a water bong is used a lot of pollutants are filtered out. That was from a university study, so maybe I'll break down and buy one. Have been using a vaporizer and making my weed into canabutter then baking with it. My lungs are pretty weak these days. It is good news, perhaps this will help someone else also.