(NaturalNews) When the McCaughey family called in fumigators to take out an army of termites, they had no clue the fumigation chemicals would ultimately send their son into a state of paralysis. After their home was fumigated, the Florida family returned home and immediately grew ill. The parents were able to recover, but their 10-year-old son started to lose his ability to walk. Today, the boy is paralyzed and has lost 90 percent of his motor skills. Florida state investigators have confirmed that the fumigation chemicals caused the paralysis. The boy, Peyton McCaughey, cannot even walk. According to reports, he can't "even lift his head."

Heartbroken and angered, the parents sued Terminix and a subcontractor named Sunland for their negligence. The official complaint states that the fumigators "failed to properly make certain" that the McCaughey home was safe to re-enter.

Fumigation chemicals paralyze young boy

The family, including a sister, two parents and a grandmother, all fell ill after re-entering their house. They were able to recover, but 10-year-old Peyton had a much different reaction. After exposure to the fumigation chemicals, Peyton suffered "a catastrophic brain injury." Immediately he started having muscle spasms and slurred speech.

After further investigation from the Consumer Services Communications and the State Department of Agriculture, investigators discovered that Sunland did not participate in an all-important training program that teaches workers about the toxicity of the fumigation chemicals. On top of that, the safety equipment Sunland used to test the home was not working properly. Since the incident, the state has stripped Sunland of their pest control license. Terminix has reached out to the family, saying their "heart goes out to the family" but words can't make up for the damage done.

Chemical fumigation is dangerous, creating a toxic home environment

Fumigators use gaseous pesticides to kill termites and other pests. They wear oxygen tanks and breathing masks when they fumigate a home to protect themselves from the poisonous vapors. The most common fumigation chemicals start off as solids or tablets. The most common form is aluminum phosphide, a pellet that is placed strategically in sealed-off quarters that are infested with pests.

Slowly, these pellets react with moisture to release phosphine gas. The phosphine gas is poisonous to the pests, but if the gas escapes into the home, it can cause the home dwellers to become nauseous, dizzy and sick. In this case, the poisonous pesticide disabled the nervous system of a young boy, bringing up questions about its chemical make-up and potential to cause greater harm.

Right now, Peyton's health status is unclear. The family says he requires constant care. His uncle, Ed Gribben, reports that, "It's hopeful and encouraging that he has made some improvement but he's nowhere near the kid that he used to be."

Sources are also reporting that Sunland contractors didn't use the correct fumigant that the family had initially agreed upon. The fumigant Sunland might have used is called Zythor, with the chemical name sulfuryl fluoride. The usage of this chemical might explain the destruction of the boy's motor skills. The fact sheet on this chemical warns about people having convulsions if they've been exposed to its poisonous vapors.

Sources for this article include:
USAToday.com
Terminix.ph
News.AlAyham.com
Megafume.com^[PDF]