This product leaves virtually no residual, as it breaks down quickly in sunlight, so there is no chance of food contamination, although surfaces should be wiped down following treatment. This product is slightly less hazardous than other chemical pesticides available, but is not able to eliminate the entire breeding population. When the roaches preen themselves, they ingest the poisons and it inevitably kills them. This product is extremely effective in small amounts and retains it potency for an extended period of time. Boric acid is not known as an insect repellent, rather the roaches continually return to treated areas until they die.
Boric acid is odorless and extremely low in toxicity to people, pets, and other nontarget animals.
The only downside to the use of boric acid is that it should be applied to dry areas because moisture renders the product virtually ineffective. EcoScience, a pesticide research company, discovered a fungus that is capable of devouring the common cockroach. The roach simply ingests or comes in contact with the fungus upon which the fungus releases enzymes that digest the hard chitinous cuticle of the roach's outer body. It slowly breaks down the cockroach until there are hardly any remains. Meanwhile, fungal spores spread to attack the remaining population.