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Mosquito coil emissions and health implications
Weili Liu1, Junfeng Zhang, Jamal H Hashim
1Joint Graduate Program in Exposure Measurement and Assessment, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
Environmental Health Perspectives
|September 2, 2003
Summary
Burning mosquito coils indoors releases harmful pollutants, including fine particles (PM2.5) and volatile organic compounds. This indoor air pollution poses significant health risks, potentially exceeding air quality standards.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Air Quality Science
- Toxicology
Background:
- Mosquito coils are widely used for indoor mosquito control in tropical and subtropical regions.
- Smoke emissions from burning mosquito coils may contain hazardous air pollutants.
- Limited data exists on the specific emission rates and health risks associated with various mosquito coil brands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize and quantify emissions from common Chinese and Malaysian mosquito coil brands.
- To assess potential indoor air concentrations and associated health risks.
- To compare pollutant emissions between different mosquito coil origins.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mass balance equations to determine emission rates of particulate matter (PM2.5), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aldehydes, and ketones.
- Predicted indoor pollutant concentrations based on measured emission rates under realistic conditions.
- Analyzed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and determined particulate matter size distribution.
Main Results:
- Mosquito coil smoke contains significant levels of PM2.5, PAHs, aldehydes, ketones, and VOCs, including carcinogens.
- Predicted indoor pollutant concentrations frequently exceeded established health guidelines.
- Malaysian brands emitted higher levels of pollutants than Chinese brands under similar combustion conditions.
- Particulate matter emitted was predominantly ultrafine and fine.
Conclusions:
- Burning mosquito coils indoors can lead to substantial exposure to harmful air pollutants.
- The levels of pollutants emitted pose significant acute and chronic health risks.
- Exposure equivalencies were drawn, with one coil emitting PM2.5 comparable to 75-137 cigarettes.