Mosquito Coil Dangerous To Human Health- KNUST

A research conducted by the Department of Environmental Science of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), shows that the use of mosquito repellent coil does not necessarily reduce the incidence of malaria and could cause Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI).

Findings of the study revealed that materials used to produce the coils contained variety of insecticide compounds which could pollute the air when burnt, thereby posing health hazards to users.

Findings

Respondents, who exclusively applied mosquito coils were grouped as ‘test cohort’, while those who did not apply any mosquito repellent methods constituted a ‘control cohort’. In spite of the use of mosquito coils, the ‘test cohort”- the group that used mosquito coils, recorded 86.3 per cent of malaria incidence while with the “control group” scored 72.4 per cent.

Subsequent findings revealed that a significant number of respondents who reported symptoms of cough after the use of mosquito coil rated 52.6 per cent while those who did not use the product scored 46.1 per cent. “It was also found that respondents with shortness of breath, which was used as the basis for ARI were more likely to have applied mosquito coils”. the report added.

In all, 480 households were selected randomly across the nation in four districts, precisely in Dodowa, Kintampo, Offinso and Navrango.  These districts were selected because they are among malaria-endemic districts in the country.

Source: thepublisher