A Californian woman went on a leisurely walk through her neighborhood only to see a bunch of mothballs on the ground. That was when she realized her neighbor was deliberately trying to poison dogs along the street.
“So this lady who says she’s a Christian, and is batty as hell, decided to put moth balls all over this street,” Amber (@dietcokeplsss) said. She clarified that the woman had seen a neighbor walking their pet and decided to throw the small white balls across the street to deter them.
Amber posted about the experience on her TikTok page. It quickly got more than 1.3 million views in less than a week. Many people are curious what would drive a woman to do such a thing.
What are mothballs?
Mothballs are “small balls of pesticide and deodorant” that can deter insects like moths when placed alongside clothing. Due to the compounds inside the balls, they slowly transform from a solid state to a gas. Thus, releasing chemicals that can ward off moths and protect clothing.
Why are mothballs dangerous for dogs and small children?
Mothballs are incredibly volatile for pets and children, something that Amber picked up on immediately. In her description, she wrote, “My mom’s neighbor was walking her dog yesterday and a lady on their street got mad because she walked in front of her house. So this miserable human covered the entire street with mothballs which are toxic to dogs…”
As one commenter put it, “Mothballs are toxic and contain chemicals like naphthalene… which [is] poisonous to pets, wildlife and children.” All of that information is true. Mothballs, despite looking relatively harmless, contain harmful chemicals and are technically considered potentially lethal pesticides for animals.
Naphthalene is a hydrocarbon derived from coal tar or crude oil. It’s commonly used for solvents and dyes. Dichlorobenzene, another component in mothballs, is considered a chlorinated volatile organic compound (VOC). This is commonly used in air fresheners and air repellents. The combination makes them an airborne risk.
When mothballs are present in a small space, there’s a likely chance you’ll accidentally inhale both of these compounds. While they’re lethal to insects, inhaling their vapors for too long can also be toxic for pets and children, as their bodies are closer to the floor. Even adults can experience significant side effects such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness.
Long-term exposure can cause kidney damage via hemolytic anemia. They also may pose a cancer risk as they’re a possible carcinogen. The risk increases for pets and children.
What happened to the neighbor?
Amber’s mother called the police after they noticed the mothballs on the ground. Officers later arrived at the neighbor’s doorstep. According to Amber’s testimony, the woman immediately confessed, admitting that she threw the mothballs around to deter walkers from making their way through the neighborhood. The police reportedly fined the woman.
In an update, Amber clarified that it was difficult to get all of the mothballs because the neighbor smashed some into the ground. “My mom and brother [have been] picking up the mothballs that her neighbor put all over their street because she doesn’t like neighborhood pets. She literally smashed some to the ground so they wouldn’t be able to be picked up.”
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Due to the smashed mothballs, there is still a risk of mothball poisoning for pets and wildlife in the area. If an animal consumes part of a smashed mothball, it may experience severe symptoms like nausea, vomiting and seizures.
For that reason, many people recommended that Amber’s family still call local fisheries and the wildlife department to assess the situation.
The Mary Sue reached out to Amber for more information, but she was unavailable to comment.
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