Moth Balls (Naphthalene and Paradichlorobenzene)
The National Pesticide Information Center takes several calls every year concerning the use of moth balls. In response to several inquiries about the proper use and potential health effects of moth balls, NPIC presents this collection of science-based articles, fact-sheets and resources. Our goal is to promote informed decision-making based on sound science.
Moth balls are pesticides that come in a solid form then volatilize slowly into a gas. Moth balls produced in the U.S. contain one of two active ingredients: naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene.
The information below is an extensive and carefully researched, but not necessarily comprehensive, list of resources on the subject. The topic headings were chosen because they were the areas that generated the most interest by people who contacted NPIC.
If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (seven days per week, 6:30am-4:30pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.
Recent Studies
Naphthalene
- Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation: Perinatal Toxicity of Domestic Naphthalene exposure Molloy et al. 2004.
- Stability of Hemoglobin and Albumin Adducts of Naphthalene Oxide, 1,2-Naphthoquinone, and 1,4 -Naphthoquinone Troester et al. 2002.
- A Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model for Inhalation and Intravenous Administration of Naphthalene in Rats and Mice Willems et al. 2001.
- Combining Cell Culture Analogue Reactor Designs and PBPK Models to Probe Mechanisms of Naphthalene Toxicity; Ghanem and Shuler, 2000.
- A preliminary physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for naphthalene and naphthalene oxide in mice and rats; Sweeney et al. 1996.
- Characterisation of the toxic metabolite(s) of naphthalene; Wilsona et al. 1996.
- Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, Camphor and Moth Repellents, Goldfrank et al. (Electronic version not available online)
Paradichlorobenzene
- Volatile Organic Compounds and Pulmonary Function in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Elliott et al. 2006. (Electronic version not available online)
- Twin Girls with Neurocutaneous Symptoms Caused by Mothball Intoxication; Feuillet et al. 2006.
- Mothball Withdrawal Encephalopathy-Case Report and Review of Paradichlorobenzene Neurotoxicity; Cheong et al. 2006.
- Concealed mothball abuse prior to anesthesia: mothballs, inhalants, and their management. Kong and Schmiesing, 2005(Electronic version not available online)
- Carcinogenicity and Chronic Toxicity in Mice and Rats Exposed by Inhalation to para-Dichlorobenzene Shigetoshi et al. 2005.
- Thirteen-week Inhalation Toxicity of p-Dichlorobenzene in Mice and Rats Shigetoshi et al. 2005.
- In Vitro and In Vivo Estrogenicity and Toxicity of o-, m-, and p-Dichlorobenzene; Versonnen et al. 2003.
- Medical complications due to mothball abuse; Weintraub et al. 2000.
- An Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Hazard of 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Based on Iternationally Recognized Criteria; Barter and Sherman; 1999. (Electronic version not available online)
