The Latest News on ProFume Gas Fumigant

Photo on right: Courtesy of USDA

Quality Assurance & Food Safety, "Precision Fumigation Increases Options," March/April 2007   (200KB PDF)
Jim Garrett, owner of Fume-Tech Inc., a major fumigation company serving California, discusses his success with ProFume gas fumigant.  Garrett says ProFume, along with Precision Fumigation tools and techniques, has made him a better fumigator and allowed him to provide unprecedented flexibility to his customers.

World Grain, "Methyl Bromide Debate Continues," September 2006 (179KB PDF)
Research results on methyl bromide alternatives for stored product pest control are presented from Dr. Bhadriraju Subramanyam, professor in the Department of Grain Science and Industry at Kansas State University.  Case studies on ProFume^® gas fumigant in both a pet food facility and a flour mill are highlighted, demonstrating effective control of the target pests in all life stages. 

Milling Journal, "Rice Mill Fumigation," April/May/June 2006 (426KB PDF)
Four fumigations using ProFume^® gas fumigant in three California rice mills resulting in a maximum performance rating based on "no infestation after 30 days or longer" by all three millers, and a maximum rating in 17 of 18 categories by the fumigator. In addiiton, the fumigator reported that use of Precision Fumigation™ tools and techniques provided the necessary flexibility to conduct effective fumigations under a variety of circumstances and to gain close agreement between expected and observed CT.

Food Quality, "Exploring Options in Stored Product Pest Control," Feb/March 2006 (124KB PDF)
Three industry experts provide insight into new developments and research on the methods available or on the horizon for stored product pest control.

Grain & Feed Marketing, "Keeping Fumigation Costs in Line," Winter 2005 (383KB PDF)
This article describes Precision Fumigation tools and techniques used with ProFume gas fumigant and how users can benefit from them to keep fumigation costs in line. These tools help improve efficiency of fumigation jobs by allowing operators to manage different scenarios.

Milling & Baking News, "Stored Product Treatment Option Gains Broader Acceptance," August 3, 2004 (120KB PDF)
An in-depth interview with Drew Ratterman, North American marketing manager for Dow AgroSciences, discusses the recent state registrations and widespread acceptance of ProFume as a treatment option in milling facilities.

World Grain, "A Mill’s Sanitation Toolbox," April 2004 (1.27MB PDF)
The article quotes Jerry Heath, product manager for Industrial Fumigant Company (IFC) as saying “ProFume promises to be a wonderful new fumigant for the milling and processing industry. It will be unique in the way variables can be managed with its Fumiguide program – a software program developed by Dow to ensure precise, flexible fumigations. ProFume appears to be the closest thing to a direct replacement for methyl bromide for structural fumigations.”

Food Quality, "An Alternative to Methyl Bromide," April/May 2004 (920KB PDF)
“One fumigant that is an alternative to methyl bromide is ProFume from Dow AgroSciences LLC, which can provide broad-spectrum control of post-harvest pests without depleting the ozone.”

Pest Control, "Watch for Fumigant Label Changes," May 2003 (681KB PDF)
The article, written by John Mueller, touches on a key component of Precision Fumigation with ProFume. "The new postharvest fumigant ProFume (at press time, this Dow AgroSciences product was pending EPA approval) will require monitoring as part of Dow's Precision Fumigation system."

World Grain, "Searching for Options," April 2003 (1.3MB PDF)
"Probably the most promising methyl bromide alternative applicable for a wide range of uses is Dow AgroSciences' product, ProFume gas fumigant, which is currently close to receiving U.S. EPA approval."

"There are several key advantages to ProFume as a methyl bromide alternative. First, it is non-corrosive, non-flammable and odorless. Also key, the cost and time involved is expected to be comparable to methyl bromide. But ProFume's real edge lies in its precision fumigation capabilities."

Pest Control, "The Future of Fumigants," May 2002 (1.4MB PDF)
"Because of Vikane's 40-year-plus track record of no corrosion problems, ProFume does have the major advantage over some of the other methyl bromide replacement contenders."

"Another advantage ProFume offers is that users can easily substitute methyl bromide's existing frequency schedule."

American Institute of Baking Technical Bulletin, May 2002 (620KB PDF)
This bulletin quotes a 1996 report by entomologists in CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization) that references sulfuryl fluoride by saying, "This chemical is an effective fumigant… its efficacy is well researched and understood. It provides good penetration, requires a short exposure period of approximately 24 hours and aerates in six to eight hours."

The bulletin also states, "Sulfuryl fluoride is an established structural fumigant that has been used for more than 40 years… many consider it to be the fumigant of the future."

The IFC Newsletter, Bulletin 41, March 2002 (479KB PDF)
"Dow AgroSciences has worked with the USDA, universities and leaders in the fumigation industry. IFC has conducted test fumigations with sulfuryl fluoride in flour mills and had excellent results. It (ProFume) quickly penetrates the fumigated area and dissipates rapidly during aeration."

"IFC and Dow AgroSciences have worked closely together testing various application methods and refining sealing techniques… Research results from mill fumigations will be used by Dow AgroSciences to develop Precision Fumigation™ techniques. The (Dow AgroSciences) intention is to use laboratory efficacy data plus these field findings to develop a computerized program that will prescribe the right dose and exposure to match any given situation."

Pacific Nut Producer, September/October 2001 (1.5MB PDF)
This publication quotes Dennis Balint, chief executive officer of the California Walnut Commission, as saying, "ProFume is the most promising replacement we have, no question about it."

This publication also quotes Preston Hartsell, principal investigator on a residue study conducted by the Dried Fruit Association of California, as saying, "ProFume will fill many of the holes left by the phase out of methyl bromide particularly in stored products…"

Methyl Bromide Alternatives, "Sulfuryl Fluoride: The Postharvest Fumigant of the Future?" Vol 6, No. 4, October 2000 (496KB PDF)
"Though sulfuryl fluoride must undergo rigorous EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) registration procedures, its approval will provide an acceptable alternative to methyl bromide, thus filling a substantial need for postharvest fumigants."