Coil by inf3ktion
My landlord has a nice garden, which also breeds a shit-ton of mosquitoes. To fight these I’ve been using an electrified tennis racket (which I call the Death Machine), but, as satisfying as it is, this is not especially effective. Damn mosquitoes keep coming. I finally caved today and bought some coils.
Mosquito coils are these toxic loops that you burn in your house to keep mozzies at bay. I’ve avoided them because A) I can’t be assed going to the store B) I don’t quite believe that they work and C) I think they may be as unhealthy ad mosquitoes. So what’s the scene?
The general consensus seems to be A) just go to the store and B) coils do repel mosquitoes. I just started burning them today in earnest so we shall see. It’s better than nothing, and they cost like Rs 65 for a pack of ten, if I remember correctly. But what of C, the health benefits.
Coils work by releasing particulates into the air which immobilize and repel mosquitoes. The people indoors, however, are breathing those same particles, which can’t be good. On the plus side, the main active ingredient is usually Pyrethrum, which is a genus of the Chrysanthemum flower. Which seems ancient and cool. I dunno how often they bloom but it’d be lovely to have a garden full of mosquito repelling Chrysanthemums. The industrial product, however, is either synthesized or mixed with other toxins, making it extra toxic.
How toxic? This NCBI link says that the particulate matter from one coil is equal to round 100 cigarettes. The amount of formeldahyde is equal to about 50 cigarettes. It’s not a study of the exact brands used in Sri Lanka, but we’re obviously not sniffing flowers. I’ve seen similar studies from India. I checked the pack I got (Mortein) and it says Allethrin, which is a synthetic. And they don’t give you the full ingredient list at all, which is dodgy.
I’m honestly pretty convinced that mosquito coils are bad, but I’m still using them anyways. I’m shit scared of dengue, which has recently killed healthy people my age, and I really hate mosquitoes. So the long term risks of coils – namely cancer and God knows what else – are ones I’m willing to bear.
That said, this isn’t a solution to the mosquito problem or dengue. It’s just a band-aid. Colombo desperately needs to sort out its drainage and garbage situation that breeds these deadly pests, and people also need to take better care of their neighborhoods. Mosquito coils are a shitty stopgap measure which introduce new problems of their own.
Don’t forget the fire hazard. Long time back I dropped a pillow on to a coil while in sleep. Almost burned down the house. Stopped using coils about an year ago after reading about some health hazards.
I also noticed mosquitoes where I live just keep coming even when there is a coil or a vaporizer which I think is less hazardous as it does not emit ash in to air . Now using the fan at high setting all night long and it seems to be working.
Can’t stand that stuff. Got used to sleeping under a net.
I don’t understand why insect screens are not used in Sri Lanka. Install them on the windows and grills and doors and the house is mosquito proof forever. No more bites, no more mosquito coils…
I use the fan +nets.
dust>poor ventilation if you didn’t vacuum very often.
My grandfather used to burn Saambraani powder for this. Worked like a charm. Takes some effort though.
Yeah, mostquito coil fumes over dengue any day. You could also try those devices that plug into power outlets. I believe they work by heating up citronella oil, or something to that effect. They’re probably less toxic and just as effective. I’ve seen them in supermarkets, and I recall there’s a brand called Ninja. I imagine the mosquitoes are no match for the citronella vapour ninja skillz.
I think you can spray the garden with insecticide/DDT. That should be the first step. That should get rid of the bulk.
For sleeping nothing is as effective as a mosquito net.
For other times coils work but keep them at the far end of the room, the smoke is pretty irritating.