Posted on 09/06/2012 8:41:37 AM PDT by Red Badger
Nicotine is bad for you and apparently it has the same poisonous effect on pests, getting scientists' attention for a potential alternative to traditional commercial pesticides.
Tobacco and nicotine make one of the-hardest-to-get-rid-of vices of modern society – smoking, which can lead to lung cancer and early death.
For hundreds of years now, tobacco leaves have been used on a small scale, as a natural organic pesticide, and as the growing concerns about health risk related to tobacco sales are harming tobacco farmers in some parts of the world, scientists looked for a new way of using this plant.
Dr Cedric Briens, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Western Ontario, and Director of the Research and Development, of the Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), and colleagues, thought of using tobacco as a natural pesticide, due to its toxic content of nicotine.
They explained that tobacco leaves could be turned into pesticides by a process called pyrolysis, which involves heating up the tobacco leaves at 900 degrees Fahrenheit (482.2 degrees Celsius) in a vacuum.
From pyrolysis results an unrefined substance called bio-oil, which the scientists tested as a pesticide against a wide range of insect pests, including 11 different fungi, 4 bacteria, and the Colorado potato beetle (a major agricultural pest that is very resistant to insecticides).
This oil killed all of the beetles and stopped the growth of two types of bacteria and one type of fungus, and even after the nicotine was removed, the oil kept its pesticide properties.
Because tobacco bio-oil proved to be so effective, and also because it destroyed some but not all of the microorganisms, the team concluded that it could be very valuable as a selective pesticide, far better than those currently used.
It's no wonder that for centuries, gardeners have been using home-made mixtures of tobacco and water as a natural pesticide to kill insect pests.
Of this research could start a 'green' pesticide industry, tobacco farmers would regain an additional income and the world would have a new eco-friendly pest-control agent.
The report was published in ACS' bi-weekly journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.
I don’t know for sure but I think it might be OTC now. I have a bunch that was given to me years ago. Hard as a rock now but I’m sure the nicotine content is intact. I consider it a prepper supply for TEOTWAWKI. LOL
I had a great uncle who chewed snuff and lived to be 92.
When he died New York State listed “tobacco use” as a contributing cause of death on his death certificate. Gotta pad those stats you know.
The real reason dinosaurs became extinct.
It was really popular around my office at the time Gary Larsen published it, before smoking had been banned indoors. It mysteriously appeared on bulletin boards and certain office doors.
From what Lady Mesta said, sounds like a couple or four bags of chaw would be a good set aside for prepping, too!
With the lozenges I get that nicotine in 20 minutes or more as it's more time released.
Never knew it was used as a diet aide but can understand why it would work as I'll sometimes grab a lozenge when I feel like mindless snacking when not hungry.
The gov can do what it wants. I'm calm and the insects are nervous around here.
where does the wild variety grow?
I find it interesting that they are discussing tobacco pyrolysis products and using the term “green” which most people equate as safe.
It is the pyrolysis products of tobacco that constitute the carcinogens found in cigarette smoke.
Pest control agents for the garden have long been nicotine based. My MIL used nicotine on her garden 40 years ago as an old remedy for bugs. I smoked at the time and she used to badger me by telling me that what I was smoking is what she killed bugs with.
http://www.gardenguides.com/taxonomy/aztec-tobacco-nicotiana-rustica/
“Wild tobacco is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico and parts of South America. Given proper care, this species can be grown throughout the continental United States.”
You can buy starter seed online (one example):
http://www.victoryseeds.com/nicotiana_rustica.html
Speaking from personal experience, it should be treated like any potentially toxic plant, such as foxglove (which is really pretty and contains digitalis), monkshood, oleander, jimson weed (datura), etc. That is, children and dogs that eat plants should not be around them unattended, and gloves should be used while working with them.
***For hundreds of years now, tobacco leaves have been used on a small scale, as a natural organic pesticide,***
BLACK LEAF-40. A great pesticide. Also great for killing lamed horses in six seconds! Deadly poison, and people smoke that stuff?
My Grandpa Harry did the very same thing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.