Public warned vs anti-mosquito products

WATCHDOG group BAN Toxics on Friday cautioned the public against the use of mosquito coils, insecticides and fogging, amid rising dengue cases in the country, due to the potential health risks of these products.

Citing data from the Department of Health (DoH), BAN Toxics said there was a 33-percent increase in dengue cases from January 1 to August 3 this year, compared to the same period in 2023.

«Protecting oneself from mosquito bites as part of the anti-dengue strategies should not come at the cost of introducing another health hazard,» BAN Toxics advocacy and campaign officer Thony Dizon said in a statement.

«While mosquito coils are an affordable and effective way to reduce mosquito bites, the burning of these coils and industry malpractices raise public health concerns due to their adverse environmental and health impacts,» Dizon added.

According to the group, mosquito coils are insecticide products made from synthetic chemicals, which include esbiothrin, and plant-based materials «that deter mosquito bites, hold the coil together, and enable it to burn slowly for approximately 8 hours.»

Meanwhile, inhaling aerosol sprays that contain pyrethrins can cause difficulty breathing, cough, tremors, seizures, stomach trouble and vomiting.

«Burning a single mosquito coil releases the same amount of particulate matter as smoking 75–137 cigarettes. It emits formaldehyde as high as that released from burning 51 cigarettes,» Dizon said.