Fumigation is required as an appropriate biosecurity measure to exterminate insect pests in shipping containers. The aim of this study was to determine if ethyl formate (EF) + nitrogen could be safely applied as an in-transit fumigant for containers transported on land and then by sea. In-transit fumigation trials were conducted in four 20 ft shipping containers during a four-day journey in December 2019 in Western Australia. Ethyl formate (90 g m⁻³) was released with nitrogen into the containers. Ethyl formate concentrations inside the containers and the surrounding environment on the barge were monitored at timed intervals throughout the overnight voyage. This study added new data on in-transit fumigation with ethyl formate + nitrogen via road and has successfully demonstrated safety of in-transit fumigation with ethyl formate + nitrogen via the marine sector. There was no detectable risk to the public, crew members on the barge or workers throughout the journey. In addition, all tested containers were ready to be opened and unloaded with 5-10 minutes aeration or without aeration upon arrival.

熏蒸是一种适当的生物安全措施，可以消灭运输集装箱中的害虫。这项研究的目的是确定甲酸乙酯（EF）+氮是否可以安全地用作在陆上和海上运输的集装箱的转运熏蒸剂。2019年12月，在西澳大利亚进行的为期四天的旅程中，在四个20英尺高的运输集装箱中进行了熏蒸试验。甲酸乙酯（90 gm ^-3）与氮气一起释放到容器中。在整个通航过程中，定期监控集装箱内的乙基甲酸乙酯浓度以及驳船上的周围环境。这项研究为通过道路进行甲酸乙酯+氮熏蒸的新数据添加了新的数据，并成功地证明了通过海洋部门进行甲酸乙酯+氮熏蒸的安全性。在整个旅程中，公众，驳船上的船员或工人都没有发现任何危险。此外，所有经过测试的容器都准备好在5-10分钟通气或到达时不通气的情况下打开和卸下。