Research on alternative fumigants to replace methyl bromide (MB), a harmful ozone-depleting substance and highly toxic pesticide, began in 2007. Initial tests focused on using ethyl formate for fruits and EDN for wood. Subsequently, alternative techniques were developed for a total of 94 plant types using ethyl formate, EDN, and phosphine, demonstrating Korea's superior performance compared to other countries, especially in practical applications. However, when it comes to wood products, the primary users of methyl bromide, EDN is scarcely used due to concerns about worker safety. An emerging alternative to MB is sulfuryl fluoride (SF), widely employed in North America to control wood-damaging pests like termites. SF's advantages include a lower boiling point and higher vapor pressure, making it effective against wood pests. Yet, certain bark beetle eggs require higher doses and longer treatment periods, resulting in established international standards (e.g., 120g/m3 for 48 hours at 20℃), posing challenges for field applications. Recently, the APQA initiated basic research to apply SF to wood. They are assessing SF's effectiveness against various wood-destroying pests, including termites, bark beetles, and long horn beetles, while also evaluating the feasibility of mixed treatments to reduce dosage. Once SF fumigation standards are established, it is expected to significantly reduce methyl bromide use in commonly used wood types, contributing to ozone layer protection and enhancing fumigation work safety.

Methyl bromide (MeBr) which is widely used in most of the countries for quarantine purpose, has been designated and under control as ozone depleting substance. This study is on the toxicity of ethanedinitrile as a MeBr alternative to control several wood-related insect pests. LC50 value of Ethanedinitrile(EDN) for Reticulitemes speratus, Tomicus piniperda adults at 21℃ was 0.26, 4.83 mg/L respectively. LC99 value of EDN for R. speratus at open status and closed wooden cubes was 0.65, 0.62 mg/L respectively, whereas MB was 13.96, 31.10 mg/L, which means that the toxicity of EDN for R. spratus is greater and EDN penetrates better into wood as compared with MB. The morality of EDN 20.3 mg/L(6hr) at 25℃ for Crytogenius lutats in wood was 90.3% in larvae, 58.6% in pupae and 89.5% in adults, which means that pupae were more resistant than larvae and adult. All stages of C. lutats were disinfected with EDN at or more than 29.9.mg/L, 6hr(CT product 89 mg hr/L) at 25℃. In sorption and application test, CT product of EDN 50 g/㎥(6hr) was 157 g hr/㎥ in the conditions of 21% wood moisture content with 25% loading, 171 g hr/㎥ in 54% wood moisture content with 25% loading and 158 g hr/㎥ in 54% wood moisture content with 50% loading, respectively. In all treatments, adults of Cryphalus fulvus and R. speratus were completely killed. The minimal CT product (158 g hr/m3) of 6hrs treatment was higher than CT product to disinfect C. lutats (89 mg hr/L). It is expected that it can be used as alternative fumigant of MeBr for woods.