Mosquito coils (the kind you burn to kill mosquitoes) - can anyone tell me about the toxicity of these?

Recent studies showed that the smoke generated from burning mosquito coil is of certain health concerns – one burning mosquito coil produces the same amount of particulate mass (diameter up to 2.5 μm) as 75–137 burning cigarettes would; and the emission of formaldehyde from one burning coil can be as high as that released from 51 burning cigarettes.[2]
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@SpatzieLover very interesting, thank you. I certainly don’t like the idea of breathing in formaldehyde, sounds terrible. I tend to burn a piece about 2 inches long but in a closed room one can’t help but breathe in the smoke… I think I’m going to have to find another means of annihilating mosquitoes at night… does anyone use any other method before they go to sleep?

I was raised in South Florida, and live here now. Needless to say, I’ve breathed in many of these fumes.

I’ve done OK so far. I’ll have someone update with a new post should I ever take a turn for the worse.

LOL

Anyway. Where are you sleeping that you have to get rid of mosquitos before you turn down? The method we use is simply keeping the screen closed at all times, thus keeping the mosquitos out. ESPECIALLY at night time.

I can’t see how smoke from mosquito coils can be any less dangerous than cigarette smoke. Smoke is smoke, whether it comes from cigarettes, cigars, mosquito coils or a burning building. The fact that mosquitos stay awake from the smoke suggests you should, too.

I lived for many years in Costa Rica, and we used mosquito netting over the beds. This is the best method, in my opinion.

They are much more dangerous than cigarettes.

According to a study by UC Riverside scientists, many mosquito coils – most notably those manufactured in Asia – often contain up to one percent BCME (which stands for bis[cloromethyl]ether, a chemical associated with the breakdown of S-2). BCME has been described as “the most potent lung cancer chemical ever discovered.” And lung cancer is just about the most deadly cancer known.

In one Chinese factory where mosquito coils were manufactured, a large fraction of employees were dead within five years of starting their jobs. The cause? Lung cancer.

@SpatzieLover Yes, and any amount of formaldehyde is too much formaldehyde. It cross-links your DNA and can cause cancer.

@Adagio It sounds like your mosquito coil is toxic, as previous posters have mentioned.

A mosquito net around your bed is an option. They also sell nets treated with insecticide. Here’s a link for a very affordable (about $33 plus shipping) insecticide treated mosquito net at an Army/Navy store: http://shop.vtarmynavy.com/insecticide-treated-mosquito-net-p7938.aspx?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase

Another much less toxic (no insecticide) but much more expensive and more effective option is to get a mosquito magnet machine. Depending on the brand, they vary from the Mosquito Magnet (most effective) http://www.mosquitomagnet.com/resource/lps/mm/3-traps-octenol/index-v1.html?s_kwcid=TC|1026037|mosquito%20magnet.||S|e|16861949516&gclid=CNv12sqg0q0CFUOo4Aodvh-pmA

Here are cheaper ones offered at Front Gate. http://www.frontgate.com/mega-catch-pro-900-alpha-mosquito-trap/outdoor-decor-accessories/storage-maintenance-lawn-care/pest-control/370603

There are many of these machines are available used/reconditioned. I found a reconditioned Mosquito Magnet for $179 at Overstocks.com.

PM me if you are looking for more details.

They are rather toxic to the mosquitos.

None of this surprises me, I’ve guessed as much for ages, avoided asking the question because I knew it would mean finding an alternative crazy I know I do not have wire mosquito netting over my windows despite living right next to the bush, hence the mosquitoes. “So why don’t you have wire mosquito netting over the windows?” I hear you ask, the answer to that lies with aesthetics, pure and simple, I think they are horrendously ugly. I briefly used a mosquito net over the bed many years ago but found it somewhat claustrophobic… I think I’ll revisit that option and try again, not a mosquito net soaked in insecticide though, don’t like the thought of that at all. I’ve never heard of mosquito magnets @snowberry but I will now do so, thank you. And thank you to everyone for their two cents worth, I appreciate your input.