Frequently Asked Questions on ProFume Gas Fumigant

Select questions below to find answers to frequently asked questions about ProFume^® gas fumigant.

What is ProFume® gas fumigant?

ProFume offers effective, reliable stored product pest control that fits with operational needs. It is packaged in cylinders as a liquid under pressure. ProFume is non-flammable, non-corrosive as a gas, odorless, and has a high vapor pressure. It quickly penetrates the fumigated area, is effective against a variety of stored product pests and dissipates rapidly during aeration.

What led Dow AgroSciences to introduce ProFume® gas fumigant for stored product pest control?

The active ingredient in ProFume gas fumigant, sulfuryl fluoride, has been used successfully for controlling structure infesting pests for nearly 50 years under the trade name Vikane^® gas fumigant. When methyl bromide was scheduled to be phased out under the Montreal Protocol, several progressive food industries in the United States and other countries approached Dow AgroSciences to consider developing sulfuryl fluoride for food commodity use. As a result, Dow AgroSciences formed a partnership with leading stored product researchers, fumigators and food industries around the world and developed ProFume as a successful post-harvest fumigant.

What is the active ingredient and how does it work?

The active ingredient in ProFume^® gas fumigant is sulfuryl fluoride. Dow AgroSciences has marketed sulfuryl fluoride for nearly 50 years as Vikane^® gas fumigant for structural fumigations to eliminate pest infestations. Vikane has been used to fumigate more than 2 million buildings, including homes, museums, historical landmarks, rare book collections, and scientific and medical research laboratories.

Sulfuryl fluoride disrupts the glycolosis and citric acid cycles within cells throughout the insect body, thereby depriving insects of the necessary energy for survival.

How does ProFume® gas fumigant compare to methyl bromide?

ProFume gas fumigant is a solution to the methyl bromide phase out for postharvest fumigation of mills, warehouses, grain storage and transportation vehicles. It controls all life stages of target insects and, using Precision Fumigation™ techniques, is customized for each application situation.

Unlike methyl bromide, ProFume does NOT deplete the ozone. Like methyl bromide, ProFume can be used for short or long duration fumigations to meet the time constraints of the fumigator and customer. ProFume has many advantages:

It rapidly penetrates porous materials;
It has low sorption on fumigated materials;
It rapidly aerates from materials and commodities;
It does not react with materials to form unpleasant odors.

How does ProFume® gas fumigant compare to phosphine?

Both phosphine and ProFume provide broad spectrum control of stored product pests, have low sorption and do not negatively impact the commodity when used according to the label. Like phosphine, initial testing of ProFume on various seed varieties at maximum label rates, including corn, cotton, grass, wheat, soybeans and rice, demonstrates insignificant impact on seed germination. Furthermore, no significant interaction between the fumigant and tested seed treatments have been observed.

In addiiton, ProFume has many advantages:

It penetrates swiftly, provides quick control of stored product pests, and aerates rapidly.
It offers a flexible application period–in some cases in as few as 12 hours–so you can choose timing that suits your business needs.
It is useful in alleviating pesticide resistance issues.
ProFume is non-corrosive and non-flammable so it will not damage equipment, electronics and/or buildings when used properly.
It does not produce odors and there are no disposal issues after its use.
Fumiguide^™ calculator allows for precise dosage and creates a database for future fumigations.

However, applicators should exercise caution before treating large amounts of seed, as not all seed hybrid/varieties have been tested, nor have the potential effects of ProFume on germination been tested under all conditions. As such, Dow AgroSciences recommends testing a small amount of seed hybrids/varieties for potential sensitivity to ProFume prior to large scale fumigation.

Which pests does ProFume® gas fumigant target? Does it kill all life stages, including eggs?

ProFume targets stored product pests (insects and rodents), as well as those insects that may be transported from the field on food commodities (i.e., navel orange worm, codling moth and chestnut weevil.) ProFume controls all insect pest life stages, including eggs. Fortunately, the Fumiguide^™ tells you exactly how much ProFume you need at whatever the desired rate of control is. Choose ProFume for superior stored product pest control.

What are the uses for ProFume® gas fumigant and what is the rate?

Uses for ProFume include warehouses, mills, dried fruit and tree nut storage, grain elevators, food processing facilities and stationary transport vehicles.

No two fumigation jobs are identical. The required amount of ProFume gas fumigant will be influenced by the circumstances of each fumigation situation. Dow AgroSciences offers a unique computerized program, the Fumiguide™ program for ProFume gas fumigant, which enables fumigators to tailor each fumigation procedure for optimum efficiency. This innovative computer-based program calculates dosages based on input from fumigation variables such as pest biology, production time and environment. By allowing the fumigator to quickly modify any fumigation variable, the program helps customize and optimize a fumigation management plan for each situation.

When was ProFume® gas fumigant registered?

Dow AgroSciences has been granted the following registrations for ProFume:

2004 – U.S. Section 3 (federal) registration approval and launch for dried fruit and tree nuts (listed commodities such as raisins, dried plums, figs, dates, almonds, pecans, pistachios, walnuts)
2004 – U.S. Section 3 (federal) registration approval and launch for cereal grains storage and milling (listed commodities such as barley, corn, popcorn, oats, rice and wheat grain and their milled fractions including semolina)
2005 – U.S. Section 3 (federal) registration approval and launch for food processing facilities

Dow AgroSciences is offering ProFume commercially to each market segment in conjunction with federal and state registrations.

How is ProFume® gas fumigant priced?

Fumigators are finding the per pound price of ProFume gas fumigant an economically viable offering for their customers. In addition, Dow AgroSciences is exploring fumigation optimization techniques to make product use as cost effective as possible. A unique computerized program, called the Fumiguide™ program for ProFume gas fumigant, enables fumigators to tailor fumigation procedures for optimum efficiency.

Does ProFume® gas fumigant have a negative effect on the physical, chemical or taste effects on the fumigated product (taste, bakeability, etc.)?

A test of major commodities at near worst case scenarios in cooperation with university experts has demonstrated that ProFume has no physical, chemical or taste effects on the quality of the product.

What type of training does Dow AgroSciences provide for ProFume® gas fumigant?

Dow AgroSciences believes training is extremely important for the effective use of any Dow AgroSciences fumigant including ProFume. Training programs educate users on application techniques and safety guidelines for this product. Training, both classroom and in the field, is offered. Please contact your local Dow AgroSciences representative for more information.

What stewardship requirements does Dow AgroSciences institute for ProFume® gas fumigant?

Dow AgroSciences has a long history of supporting use of fumigants in structural and agricultural uses and is committed to the stewardship of all of its products and has instituted stewardship requirements for the use of ProFume gas fumigant. Please contact your local Dow AgroSciences representative for more information.

Does ProFume® gas fumigant negatively affect the ozone layer?

Sulfuryl fluoride, the active ingredient in ProFume, is not an ozone-depleting chemical. ProFume contains no chlorine or bromine and, thus, cannot react to deplete stratospheric ozone by the known mechanisms. It is fully oxidized and, thus, will not interact or contribute to local ozone formation (such as smog). When a commodity or facility is aerated, ProFume rapidly dissipates to non-detectable levels.

Dow AgroSciences was awarded the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the development of ProFume gas fumigant. This award recognizes extraordinary achievements, international leadership and innovation in preserving the Earth's protective stratospheric ozone layer.

Does using ProFume® gas fumigant cause damage to equipment or facilities (corrosion, fire, etc.)?

ProFume will not cause corrosion of equipment when used properly. ProFume is non-flammable, has low reactivity potential, and as a gas, is stable under temperatures and exposure duration normally encountered in fumigation.

How is ProFume® gas fumigant applied and what is the range of exposure periods?

ProFume gas fumigant is a liquid under pressure in a cylinder. It immediately converts to a gas upon release from an introduction hose due to its high vapor pressure and very low boiling point. Unlike methyl bromide, ProFume does not require the use of a heat exchanger. Air, circulated by a fan at the introduction site, serves to provide the energy necessary to convert ProFume from a liquid to a gas.

Using Precision Fumigation techniques, ProFume can be applied over a flexible time period and adapted to your business needs and schedule allowing you to continue producing quality products with minimal downtime.

Who can purchase, transport and apply ProFume® gas fumigant?

ProFume can only be purchased, transported and applied by those who have completed the training program from Dow AgroSciences or its agents. Once specially trained, state licensed/certified fumigators are authorized to use ProFume gas fumigant.

What makes ProFume® gas fumigant unique compared to other stored product pest control treatments?

Through extensive research and applied scientific principles, fumigation with ProFume promotes Precision Fumigation™ techniques. Precision Fumigation is achieved by integrating factors affecting fumigant performance, such as pest biology, temperature, exposure time, and improved sealing techniques into the fumigation management plan, maximizing efficiency, while minimizing risk.