Using mosquito coils or vaporized repellent all night can cause liver damage and might even be carcinogenic, the Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau said yesterday.
As temperatures rise and mosquitoes multiply, many people start using mosquito coils or repellent at home for long stretches at a time to get rid of them, and some parents use the products the whole night so their children can have a good night’s sleep, the bureau said.
However, it said that the main ingredient in mosquito coils and repellent — synthetic pyrethroid — is the same as in bug spray, so long-term use might cause health risks.
Long-term exposure to synthetic pyrethroid can affect the detoxification functions of the liver and kidneys, the bureau said.
The compound could also affect a baby’s growth if a pregnant woman is exposed to high levels of the substance for an extended period of time, the bureau added.
It said that research has showed that burning mosquito coils releases toluene and butylated hydroxytoluene — found to be carcinogenic in animal experiments — as well as emitting fine particles PM2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which might cause health problems.
The bureau said insect repellents should be only used as a reinforcement measure, while a clean house and surroundings — especially the removal of stagnant water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding — should be the first means of mosquito control.
It said that windows should be kept open if people or pets are at home while mosquito coils or repellents are being used or if used in a closed room only for 30 to 60 minutes when no one is inside. The room should not be used afterward until it has been aired out for at least 30 minutes.
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