Can sulfur-based insecticide get you sick?

mrDark420

Member
So I grew a few plants outdoor this summer and had some bug problems. I remember a couple summers ago (during my first grow) I asked about the kind of bug spray to use to keep bugs away and was told to use insecticidal soap as long as it is approved for fruits and vegetables. I used the same insecticidal soap this year and discovered bugs about two weeks before harvest. Being a noob and an idiot, I panicked and spray my plants in fear that they would be overcome with bugs in the final weeks. Then two weeks later I harvested them and when I smoked the bud I could definitely tell that it was harsh and bad tasting. I then looked into what was actually in the spray (which no doubt I should have looked at more closely in hindsight, very very stupid on my part) and discovered that the main ingredient was sulfur. I believe it was 0.3% sulfur, 0.X% something else, and 99% other ingredients as stated on the label.

Yesterday I got really sick and actually had to go to the emergency room because I was having severe nausea and trouble breathing (probably from a panic attack due to the nausea). I'm no expert at chemistry but I know that burning sulfur creates sulfur dioxide. I looked into it online and found that SO2 can be harmful when inhaled and can cause lung disease if inhaled over a long period of time. I immediately stopped smoking the weed with the sulfur on it and then the next day is when I got sick. I'd say I smoked about an eighth and a half of the weed before I realized it was sulfur on it.

Does anybody have any experience with something similar? Was my sickness likely due to the bug spray or did I just get sick? I was given a very stern talking to by the doctor (who obviously disagreed with the use of marijuana) and my parents believe the whole sickness was caused by smoking weed, not the sulfur, and have forced me to quit (which is unnecessary because I decided to quit on my own). And believe me I feel rather stupid about this whole thing especially being on the end of it so if you must make me feel stupid then go ahead but know that I already know this. ;-) Any personal experiences or ideas would be greatly appreciated!
 

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
I highly doubt that the sulfur spray caused your sickness, but some people are more sensitive to that kind of thing than others. I wouldn't doubt that the sulfur caused the harsh smoke, though.

Anyway... Live and learn. Sounds like you already learned... So.. Good work.
 

hyroot

Well-Known Member
I've used sulfur sprays too before. No ill effects. Plants uptake sulfur anyway. Sulfur is in most nutrients anyway. There's even sulfur in neem. There is a possibility of an allergic reaction. Even eating bad fruit make you really sick.

as long as you have a good diet with plenty onion, garlic, and basil. You should hardly ever be sick.
 

mrDark420

Member
Yeah I feel fine today so no lingering effects. I did however get rid of the weed because its so harsh that its not even worth smoking. If i'm smoking something I want it to be good, not trying to wreck my lungs over something unpleasant. I learned my lesson, won't be using bug spray that late into flowering again.
 
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