Moth balls anyone?

In the foyer of our new apartment building is a basket with ~30!!! mothballs inside. On the floor, completely uncovered for children and pets to get their paws on.
It smells terrible in the foyer and I am concerned about breathing in the fumes. I also found them in our closets, which I quickly disposed of.
I've read on the net that mothballs are toxic to pets and children and the fumes are bad for humans. I mentioned this to our landlord (now slumlord) and he left me a nasty message that "under no circumstances will he remove them and I can move if I don't like it." Can you believe this?
Anyone use mothballs and is this an appropriate way of using them? Am I overreacting?

Moth balls in LA? Seriously?? I lived most in my life in Southern California and there was never a need for moth balls....especially in LA. I didn't even know that stores in that area sold them.

I agree with Erica. What on earth does he need them for in LA?

My MIL put mothballs in a bunch of stuff. When I was unpacking the boxes just the wiff....ugh. Yuck. I shook those boxes into the dumpster and watched what went by in case it was anything super-important. For me it was as good as ruined with that SMELL!

they may not be mothballs, and depending on the landlord's religion, they may have religious significance. during our Indian wedding, I had to wear a bracelet made of camphor, which looked and smelled a whole lot like moth balls to me. I don't know what the purpose or significance was ... I just know I had to do it.

[spotty_dog]

I've never used moth balls myself, but as a fiber enthusiast I know a little about them -- you're supposed to put them in *enclosed* spaces so that the fumes percolate throughout the clothes you're protecting. I can't imagine they'd be doing much (bug-repellant-wise) in an open area! Though they are also supposed to repel stray cats, do you have a feral feline problem in your building?

[fluffhead]

I think that characteristic mothball odor is naphthalene, a PAH - polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, which has never been shown to be carcinogenic, but is classified as a possible human carcinogen, and might have other health impacts.
Whenever I smell mothballs, I flash back to my grandmother's apartment.

Anyway, if you're interested in further info, see
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/naphthal.html
and
http://www.eco-usa.net/toxics/naph.shtml

I've never used moth balls myself, but as a fiber enthusiast I know a little about them -- you're supposed to put them in *enclosed* spaces so that the fumes percolate throughout the clothes you're protecting. I can't imagine they'd be doing much (bug-repellant-wise) in an open area! Though they are also supposed to repel stray cats, do you have a feral feline problem in your building?

No stray cats that I can see. Using them as bug repellent is the only reason I can find. I plan to have DH say something to him about it. Maybe slumlord won't be so quick to dismiss my concerns if it comes from the doc!
The smell is atrocious and if they only repel bugs in tightly enclosed spaces, then there is no reason to have them there.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-moth-balls.htm

they may not be mothballs, and depending on the landlord's religion, they may have religious significance.

Nope, they are definately good ol fashioned stinky moth balls. Being a former lab rat, I've seen them before. And he admitted they were moth balls. I don't think he is religious at all. And even if he was, exposing his tenants to offensive odors and the risk to children and pets should overrule any kind of religious practice. I'm still convinced that inhaling the fumes can not be healthy.
I have a feeling he has them there to fend off bugs. But mothballs are a chemical pesticide that deters pests in tightly enclosed areas only. Like a sealed clothing bin. If that's the purpose, then it's definately not effective as he thinks.
What gets me is what a jackass he was when I told him they were toxic to children and pets and shouldn't be open in a basket on the floor in the lobby of the building.