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Mosquito repellents can cause cancer
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Those who seek short-term relief can rely on repellents. However, it is dangerous to use them continually over a long period of time, say experts.
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Vapours for whom? While mosquitoes fly away, it is humans who inhale them in their sleep. ---Photo: K.R. Deepak
Mosquitoes, the universal insects that thrive on human blood, are giving sleepless nights to many people in various parts of the world. Propagators of several diseases like malaria, typhoid and filariasis, they have developed resistance to insecticides like DDT.
However, the insects have generated big business to companies producing mosquito repellent coils and mats. Production of a single coil will cost not more than 50 paise but most of the reputed brands sell them for four to six times that price.
While these products certainly provide relief from mosquito bites night after night, in the long run they are said to induce respiratory problems, besides producing carcinogens in the human body.
Ironically, the manufacturers conveniently ignore the negative impact of their products on the health of users, while highlighting the positive aspect of driving away mosquitoes.
Most of the mosquito repellent mats and coils are either starch or husk based. They use potassium nitride or nitrate as oxidant and various types of flavours for fragrance. Sulphur compounds, which are carcinogenic in nature, are used.
Even the so-called herbal products are also using the sulphur compounds and are equally harmful to humans over a period of time.
"The mosquitoes inhale the vapours while buzzing around in the bedrooms and they cause drowsiness in them. They either go to the room corners and rest there or fly out of the windows, if they are kept open. While mosquitoes reject the vapours, humans inhale them while asleep, leading to the production of carcinogens. Regular inhalation of the vapours for about eight years is enough to produce cancer in the human body," says the Head of the Department of Organic Chemistry of Andhra University, Y.L.N. Murthy.
"There are several cases of sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and headaches due to exposure to vapours from mosquito repellent coils and mats. Prolonged exposure, for periods up to 10 years or more, to these vapours can cause cancer," confirms the oncologist, B. Ravi Shankar.
B. MADHU GOPAL
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