People and pets must leave the room when using electric mosquito repellent liquid or mosquito coils to exterminate mosquitoes, the Ministry of Environment said.
Many people have begun using electric mosquito repellent liquid or mosquito coils while sleeping, as the weather is warming up and mosquitoes are becoming more common, it said.
The main component of the repellents is pyrethroid — a chemical that contains toxins that could kill insects by disrupting their nervous system, the ministry said.
Photo: Chang Hsieh-sheng, Taipei Times
Pyrethroids are mildly toxic to most mammals, but they are highly toxic to cats, as they lack the enzyme needed to break down the compound.
They are also highly toxic to aquatic life given its low tolerance to toxicity.
The effect of applying electric mosquito repellent liquid or mosquito coils depends on whether the space is ventilated, which would require different solutions, the ministry said.
Electric mosquito repellent liquids and mosquito coils work by using electricity or fire to volatilize the repellent, it said.
Using the repellents in well-ventilated spaces mainly “knocks out” mosquitoes or keeps them away, instead of killing them, the ministry said.
Therefore, electric mosquito repellent liquid or mosquito coils should be placed at a upwind side, or the entrance or entryway of a space to repel mosquitoes, it added.
When used in a poorly ventilated space where all doors and windows are closed, electric mosquito repellent liquids or mosquito coils can exterminate mosquitoes, but safety norms must be followed in such situations, the ministry said.
People and pets, such as cats, dogs or fish, must leave the space, it added.
High levels of volatilized repellents start to kill mosquitoes 30 minutes to two hours after a electric mosquito repellent liquid is heated or after mosquito coils are burned in a closed space, the ministry said.
When finished, the repellents must be turned off or extinguished, then the room must be ventilated by opening the doors and windows, it said, adding that people and pets can enter the space again after the repellents have dissipated.
The ministry also reminded people to use mosquito repellents according to the instructions on the label.
People should refrain from applying electric mosquito repellent liquids or mosquito coils in spaces with fish tanks or ponds, and should keep such products out of children’s reach and away from flammable items, it said.
Repellents are only a tool in mosquito control, the ministry said, adding that the main approach to avoiding a mosquito infestation is to ensure that there is no place for them to breed, so people should regularly check for stagnant water.
People should remove all such water, scrub containers that hold water to get rid of mosquito eggs and declutter their environment to prevent water accumulation, it said.
The ministry also urged people to seek immediate medical attention if they experience shortness of breath or dizziness while using mosquito repellent.
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