Harmful effects of mosquito repellent coils

While mosquito repellent coils may prevent mosquito bites, the major concern of using such coils is the harm caused by chemicals used in the coil. It’s not only a potential source of fire hazard, but also problematic for lungs, because of the chemicals used in them. Doctors say that the toxic effects of mosquito repellent coils must be known before buying them. From leading to a fire hazard inside a house to long-lasting damage to one’s lungs including diseases like lung cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), mosquito repellent coils can be harmful, say experts.

In a recent incident in Delhi, six people died due to suffocation after inhaling the toxic fumes produced by the fire which was accidentally started by a mosquito repellent coil.

The six deceased including a woman and a child, fell unconscious after inhaling the carbon monoxide inside their house in Shastri Park in north-east Delhi on Friday morning, March 31, 2023. The residents of the four-story building had closed all the doors and windows which left the smoke trapped inside, leading to suffocation. Other residents of the building managed to escape while two people including a 15-year-old girl were admitted to a hospital for further treatment.

Effects of mosquito repellent coil on the lungs

A person inhaling one mosquito repellent coil or sticks is equal to smoking 100 cigarettes, says Dr Ravindra Mehta, chief of pulmonology, Apollo Specialty hospital, Bengaluru. “Mosquito repellent coils cause long-term damage to our lungs such as lung cancer and COPD but don’t cause sudden death. They cause more harm to the lungs than cigarettes do,” he said.

There have been multiple instances of accidental fire due to mosquito coil. Dr Mehta says that with no ventilation, the carbon monoxide produced by the coil would have been inhaled by the residents who were asleep for hours. This may have led them to fall unconscious and eventually suffocate to death. “Carbon monoxide is an odourless gas which builds up and is inhaled by people without their knowledge. When a large amount is inhaled, it affects the brain resulting in fatality,” he said.

How does carbon monoxide affect us?

Whenever an object is burnt in the presence of insufficient oxygen, it releases a poisonous gas (carbon monoxide) which is colourless and odourless. Dr Kapil Gupta, consultant, department of emergency medicine, Manipal Hospitals, Dwaraka, Delhi explains, “When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it binds with the haemoglobin just like oxygen does and our blood circulates it to different tissues, including heart and the brain. When these gases reach a certain level in the bloodstream, people become unconscious and cannot react to the situation or escape.”

With carbon monoxide (CO) replacing oxygen, our body goes into hypoxia, a state with low levels of oxygen, says Dr Gupta. “With no oxygen in the heart and brain, the tissues start to die within minutes resulting in respiratory arrest followed by cardiac arrest. If someone has inhaled less levels of CO and is rescued on time, they will be put on the high-pressure oxygen which disperses CO,” said Dr Gupta who is also the president of the Association of Emergency Physicians of India.

Do’s and don’ts

Experts list the below safety tips to keep in mind:

• Avoid using mosquito repellent coils or sticks. Use mosquito nets instead which are more effective.
• Ensure the rooms are well ventilated and keep the windows open.
• If there is smoke, use a wet cloth to cover your nose and mouth as it acts as a filter.
• Open the windows and the doors for the toxic gas to exit.

Dr Gupta said that any kind of smoke will produce small amounts of CO. In a well-ventilated place, a person may inhale about 2-5% of CO which is normal and does not affect the body. “When there is no ventilation, the toxic gases build up and people end up inhaling more of it,” he said.

He added that mosquito coils and incense sticks contain a lot of toxic agents which damage our body at the cellular level.

Dr Mehta says, “Another common instance we see is when people leave their running car inside an enclosed space or a garage. The CO builds up inside the space and even before they realise it, they end up losing consciousness and once it affects the brain, the person loses their life.”

Takeaway

• Mosquito repellent coils produce toxic gas which are harmful to lungs and can cause conditions such as lung cancer and COPD.
• Inhaling one mosquito repellent coil is equal to smoking 100 cigarettes.
• Mosquito repellent coils must be replaced with mosquito nets.
• Always keep the windows open while sleeping as ventilation is important.