Mosquito coil emissions and health implications.

Abstract

Burning mosquito coils indoors generates smoke that can control mosquitoes effectively. This practice is currently used in numerous households in Asia, Africa, and South America. However, the smoke may contain pollutants of health concern. We conducted the present study to characterize the emissions from four common brands of mosquito coils from China and two common brands from Malaysia. We used mass balance equations to determine emission rates of fine particles (particulate matter < 2.5 microm in diameter; PM(2.5)), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aldehydes, and ketones. Having applied these measured emission rates to predict indoor concentrations under realistic room conditions, we found that pollutant concentrations resulting from burning mosquito coils could substantially exceed health-based air quality standards or guidelines. Under the same combustion conditions, the tested Malaysian mosquito coils generated more measured pollutants than did the tested Chinese mosquito coils. We also identified a large suite of volatile organic compounds, including carcinogens and suspected carcinogens, in the coil smoke. In a set of experiments conducted in a room, we examined the size distribution of particulate matter contained in the coil smoke and found that the particles were ultrafine and fine. The findings from the present study suggest that exposure to the smoke of mosquito coils similar to the tested ones can pose significant acute and chronic health risks. For example, burning one mosquito coil would release the same amount of PM(2.5) mass as burning 75-137 cigarettes. The emission of formaldehyde from burning one coil can be as high as that released from burning 51 cigarettes.

The Effects of Sustained Release Metofluthrin on the Biting, Movement, and Mortality of Aedes aegypti in a Domestic Setting

“…[8][9][10] Furthermore, burning mosquito coils release significant amounts of fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds that may pose an acute and chronic risk to human health. 11 However, studies into the insecticidal activity of norchrysanthemic acid esters with high vapor activity at ambient temperature by Ujiahra and others 12 identified a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide ("metofluthrin") that doesn't require a heating source and was extremely effective at knocking down Culex pipiens pallens in the laboratory. Metofluthrin has also been shown, with aspirator collections, to provide spatial repellency to mosquitoes in outdoor shelters without walls 13,14 and in houses.…”

Nasopharyngeal Carriage of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Other Gram-Negative Bacilli in Pneumonia-Prone Age Groups in Semarang, Indonesia

“…It has been demonstrated that one mosquito coil releases the same amount of particulate matter as 75 to 137 cigarettes (8).…”

Maternal residential pesticide use and risk of childhood leukemia in Costa Rica

“…There is also evidence that pesticides, including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), pyrethroids, and chlorinated pesticides, may play a role in the development of childhood ALL through the deregulation of the immune system 40, 41. While we only examined broad pesticide classes in our exposure‐outcome analyses, it is important to highlight that most of the mothers who reported using insecticides inside their homes described applying them in the form of sprays (which contain predominantly pyrethroids and/or OPs) and coils [which contain pyrethroids and other carcinogenic agents such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)] 42, 43. Future studies may consider investigating the effects of specific pesticides and active ingredients on childhood leukemia in order to minimize knowledge gaps regarding the potential carcinogenic action of different pesticide groups.…”