Experts warn that in the bid to tackle the mosquito menace, many people end up overexposing themselves to harmful chemicals in homes and offices. (DC)

 In most Indian households, the battle with mosquitoes begins daily at dusk. People arm their homes and themselves with mosquito repellent creams, coils, insect repellent incense sticks (agarbattis), liquid vapouriser, and patches. Some companies use DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide), a powerful chemical to repel insects and mosquitoes that spread diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya.

But experts warn that in the bid to tackle the mosquito menace, many people end up overexposing themselves to harmful chemicals in homes and offices.

Take A Deep Breath

Dr. Pallavi Periwal, a Consultant Pulmonologist and Critical Care Physician says, “Products such as mosquito coils and incense-based repellents involve combustion and release smoke, fine particulate matter and various other chemical compounds into indoor air.”

Some people who live in areas that are infested with mosquitoes, switch on these repellents 24x7. With repeated exposure, this can irritate the nose, throat and airways, potentially leading to symptoms such as coughing, throat irritation, headache, chest discomfort or breathlessness, particularly among people whose airways are already sensitive.

Liquid vapourisers, Dr Pallavi points out, are somewhat different. Since they do not involve combustion, they generally produce far less visible particulate pollution than a burning coil. However, “smoke-free” does not mean “exposure-free.”

She quips, “These devices still release insecticidal chemicals into the surrounding air, and prolonged use in a poorly ventilated room may cause airway irritation in susceptible individuals.”

The Biggest Concerns

Smoke-producing repellents are the bigger respiratory concern, particularly when they are used for hours in enclosed spaces. Mosquito coils and incense-based repellents burn continuously, adding particulate matter and combustion products to indoor air.

For someone with asthma, that smoky environment can aggravate an already reactive airway and trigger coughing, wheezing, throat irritation, chest tightness or breathlessness.

For most people using registered mosquito-control products correctly, the issue is not that every exposure is automatically toxic. Pyrethroids, for example, are widely used in insect-control products and are generally considered to have relatively low mammalian toxicity compared with their potency against insects. But inappropriate exposure can still produce problems.

Skin Deep Problems

When it comes to mosquito repellents, where you put it matters almost as much as what you put on. Topical repellents should be applied only to exposed skin.

Dr Vijay Kumar Lingapuram, Consultant Dermatologist, Hair Transplant Surgeon & Aesthetic Physician, Renova Hospitals from Hyderabad says, “The key is to apply enough to cover exposed skin, but do not over apply.”

He quips, “More product application does not necessarily mean more protection from mosquitoes.” Repellents should never be applied over cuts, wounds or already irritated skin and should be kept away from the eyes, lips and other mucous membranes. With sprays, users should also be careful not to inhale the product.

For the face, Dr Vijay recommends a simple but important switch: spray the repellent onto the hands first and then apply it to the face, rather than spraying directly. And once the mosquitoes are no longer a concern, washing the treated skin with soap and water is a sensible precaution.

Daily Overdose Woes

Get this straight: Using a mosquito repellent lotion or spray every day does not automatically make it harmful, Dr Vijay explains. He says, “What matters is what product is being used, its concentration, how much is being used, how long it remains in contact with the body and how it is being used.”

For topical repellents, repeated application can sometimes leave sensitive skin feeling dry, particularly in people with eczema. With coils and vapourisers, the bigger consideration is prolonged inhalation exposure, especially when they are used continuously in small, poorly ventilated rooms.

The Bedroom Buzz

The biggest mistake is assuming that mosquito protection requires a single, all-out chemical assault. It doesn’t. Physical barriers remain among the simplest ways to reduce mosquito exposure: window and door screens, appropriate clothing and mosquito nets can reduce the number of opportunities mosquitoes have to reach the skin. Repellents can then be used strategically according to the situation.

Because keeping mosquitoes out is always better than fighting them once they are in. The goal is not to turn our homes into chemical battlegrounds, but to make them less inviting to the enemy.

After all, when it comes to mosquitoes, a little prevention can go a long way. Sometimes the best repellent is simply not giving the buzz an opening!

More product application does not necessarily mean more protection from mosquitoes.”

— Dr. Vijay Kumar Lingapuram, Consultant Dermatologist, Hair Transplant Surgeon & Aesthetic Physician

Products such as mosquito coils and incense-based repellents involve combustion and release smoke, fine particulate matter and various other chemical compounds into indoor air.”

— Dr. Pallavi Periwal, Consultant Pulmonologist & Critical Care Physician

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