Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news on the impact of the environment on human health. EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and its content is free online. Print issues are available by paid subscription.DISCLAIMER
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3 September 2003
Mosquito Coils Help Control Certain Diseases, But Release High Levels of Carcinogens
Study Published Today in Environmental Health Perspectives Finds Indoor Burning Equivalent to About 100 Cigarettes
[RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC] As people in Southeast Asia battle mosquito-borne disease like malaria and West Nile virus illness, they may be releasing heavy concentrations of known and suspected carcinogens into the air in their homes, according to a study published today in the September issue of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). It is one of two studies on potential hazards of mosquito coils appearing in this month’s journal.
Coils are an efficient mosquito repellent, and the pesticides contained in most, pyrethrins, are not particularly harmful to humans. But the nonpesticide composition of the coils, which smolder for approximately eight hours, means that one coil releases as much particulate matter as burning 75 to 137 cigarettes, depending on the brand of coil. Because coil consumers tend to use them regularly for many months, the potential long-term effects could be dramatic.
Consumers in countries throughout Asia have chosen mosquito coils as their weapon of choice against mosquitoes. They often burn them indoors to provide protection while sleeping, and children may be particularly at risk.
“In houses using mosquito coils children usually sleep in small rooms. To prevent them from excessive mosquito biting, the windows of their rooms are often closed during sleeping hours,” the study authors write. “Unfortunately, children are substantially more susceptible to air pollution exposure and thus can be more readily affected than adults.”
Commenting on the study, Dr. Jim Burkhart, science editor for EHP, says, “West Nile virus has reminded Americans that there are clear health benefits to preventing mosquito bites. And coils are a relatively inexpensive, efficient way to do that for many countries that lack passive tools, like window screens, that we take for granted. But we need to make sure that we’re not subjecting thousands of children to the risk of acute respiratory infections or other complications if a better way exists.”
The study authors examined emission rates of a variety of pollutants in coils made in Malaysia and in China. Under the same combustion conditions, the Malaysian coils released more measured pollutants than the Chinese coils. This appears to be caused by the use of different base materials, with the Malaysian coils utilizing coconut husks and shells, and the Chinese coils using mainly sawdust. All of the tested brands had similar contents of active ingredients.
The measurement of fine and ultrafine particulate matter emissions was stressed because of their ability to enter the lungs, with the potential to cause cancer in the long term and/or asthma in the short term. In addition, the authors studied the release of formaldehyde from burning coils and found that it could be as much as that released from burning 51 cigarettes.
The study was conducted by Weili Liu of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and Rutgers University. Other authors include Junfeng Zhang, Jamal H. Hashim, Juliana Jalaludin, Zailina Hashim, and Bernard D. Goldstein.
EHP is the journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. More information is available online at http://www.ehponline.org/.
Editor’s note: A full copy of the report is available by fax or e-mail (PDF format) to media at no charge. Go to http://www.ehponline.org/press, call 919-541-2359, or e-mail badams@brogan.com.
