Most people miss THIS warning on their mosquito repellent vaporizer’s label

How many nights have you spent lying awake in torment because you left the windows of your house open after 6 PM and now little mosquitoes were nipping away at your flesh? How many times have you wondered if that big scary mosquito buzzing around you could be carrying dengue, malaria or even the Zika virus? In such circumstances, turning to your trusty mosquito repellant might seem like the only solution — but how safe are they?

Honestly, they're usually pretty safe. Vaporizer brands popular in the Indian market, such as Good Knight, Mortein and All Out, all contain transfluthrin. This is a fast-acting pyrethroid insecticide that is a household insecticide and considered to pose low toxicity to humans and animals.

Given how these vaporizers have been around for decades now and are usually quite effective against mosquitoes, many of us don’t think twice before plugging it in and leaving it on for hours at a time. But there’s a little warning that comes with these products’ labels (sometimes in bold) that a lot of us don’t look at: “Doors and windows should be kept open while using”.

Why the ventilation is important

While mosquito vaporizers are designed to be safe for short-term use in well-ventilated areas, here’s what can happen in enclosed spaces:

Respiratory irritation: Without proper ventilation, the concentration of chemicals in the air increases, which can lead to irritation of the respiratory tract. Symptoms might include coughing, sneezing, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. People with asthma or other respiratory conditions are at a higher risk of experiencing exacerbated symptoms.

Neurological symptoms: Prolonged inhalation of high concentrations of pyrethroids can lead to dizziness, headaches, nausea, and in severe cases, neurological symptoms such as tremors and seizures. The chemicals affect the nervous system by disrupting sodium channels in nerve cells.

Lethargy and nausea: Constant exposure in a confined space can lead to feelings of lethargy, nausea, and general malaise due to the body’s reaction to higher-than-normal levels of these chemicals in the air.

Increased risk for sensitive groups: Infants, pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems or chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable to these chemicals. Inhaling them in high concentrations can potentially lead to developmental issues in children and more severe reactions in sensitive individuals.

Even with ventilation, we would also do well to look for signs of discomfort at the time of using mosquito repellent vaporizers as some individuals could be allergic or sensitive to the insecticide.

So, by all means, use the vaporizer if you deem it necessary. But remember to ensure adequate ventilation and avoid unnecessary use of the product.