The Pesticides Toxic and Chemical Control Board has said “Bye-bye Mosquito Coils!” in Antigua and Barbuda.

And let’s be honest, it’s for the best. Research shows that while they work wonders in combating mosquitoes, they also emit a concerning amount of pollutants. It’s like fighting fire with fire, but in this case, it’s smoke with smoke.

So, this proactive move to ban them is a breath of fresh air for public health.

Recent studies have shown that while mosquito coils are effective at repelling mosquitoes, they also release smoke that contains harmful pollutants.

Researchers in various countries have discovered that the smoke produced by these coils contains volatile organic compounds, some of which are known carcinogens or suspected to be carcinogenic, posing a serious health risk to people who use them.

Carcinogens are substances or agents that can cause cancer, and they can be found in the environment or produced by human activities such as cigarette smoke or car exhaust emissions.

To address this issue and protect public health, Dr. Linroy Christian, Chairman of the Board, announced a ban on mosquito coils during a stakeholder conference held as part of Pesticides Awareness Week.

This decision reflects a commitment to raise awareness about the potential dangers of pesticide use and take proactive steps to minimize health risks.

“Everybody knows anti-bacterial soaps we wash our hands every day with have a particular chemical Triclosan which has been linked to hormone disruption and increased risk of breast cancer. All of a sudden you do not see it in soaps anymore,” Dr Christian said.

Dr Christian also made a similar revelation about moth balls which is commonly used in homes in chest of drawers or suitcases.

” Mothballs you like to see it because your grandmother perhaps had it, but it contains not a pretty nice chemical,” Mothballs are commonly made of naphthalene or para- dichlorobenzene, both of which are toxic to humans. These chemicals are solids at room temperature and are made into round balls, flakes, or cakes that slowly change to a gas and become fumes in the air.