An assessment on the use of liquid vaporizer mosquito repellents and their perceived adverse effect on users

The present study focuses on an assessment of the use of liquid vaporizer mosquito repellent and the effects caused due to the active ingredients (AI) present them through a concise survey. Basic information on the various brand of liquid vaporizers used as mosquito repellents was collected from local markets. To gauge the extent of protective measures employed by the local people in Chennai and to control mosquito population a multi-centric questionnaire was designed. The study presented the valuable data on public preferences towards mosquito repellents. A large proportion of the residents prefers liquid vaporizers over coils, mats and fast cards available in the market. Though there are considerable products of herbal liquid vaporizers available, synthetic products are used in large proportions. The AI present in these synthetic liquid vaporizers posed serious health effects like breathing problem and eye irritations among the users. Apart from this they also failed to offer complete protection and their cost is comparatively high in the market. Though the responders face constant mosquito related problems, 38% of them failed to take any measures to eliminate mosquito menace in and around their localities. Present study has revealed that mosquito repellents especially liquid vaporizers pose serious health hazards and hence awareness has to be initiated to go for an alternative approach.