Total release foggers, also called "bug bombs", are used to kill cockroaches, fleas, and flying insects by filling an area with insecticide. Most foggers contain pyrethroid, pyrethrin, or both as active ingredients. Pyrethroids are a class of synthetic insecticides that are chemically similar to natural pyrethrins and have low potential for systemic toxicity in mammals. Pyrethrins are insecticides derived from chrysanthemum flowers (pyrethrum). Piperonyl butoxide and n-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide often are added to pyrethrin products to inhibit insects' microsomal enzymes that detoxify pyrethrins. To distribute their insecticide, foggers also contain aerosol propellants.
