Commodity Fumigation License Practice Exam

What happens to fumigants at lower temperatures?

1. They become more effective

2. They may not kill pests

3. They condense and become ineffective

4. Both 'B' and 'C'

The correct answer is: Both 'B' and 'C'

At lower temperatures, the effectiveness of fumigants can significantly diminish, and this is primarily due to two factors: their activity levels and physical state. Fumigants rely on temperature to volatilize and diffuse effectively throughout the area being treated. When the temperature drops, fumigants often do not vaporize as efficiently. This can lead to inadequate exposure to the pests being targeted. Furthermore, lower temperatures can often cause the fumigants to condense. This condensation can prevent the chemicals from maintaining the required concentration in the air to effectively penetrate and kill pests. Without the appropriate concentration and vaporization, these fumigants may not achieve the necessary level of lethality against pests. Therefore, both the potential for reduced effectiveness in pest control and the condensation of fumigants at lower temperatures contribute to the combination of factors leading to the correct understanding that they may not kill pests effectively and become less effective overall. Hence, the answer that encompasses both of these phenomena is the most accurate depiction of how lower temperatures impact fumigants.