Home Solutions for Mosquitos

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I was reading an article somewhere about home solutions for Mosquito infestation. It basically focussed on using chemicals during exterior paints of houses to protect it from mosquito infestation. In that case the house itself becomes a mosquito repellant and secures residents from mosquitos. What do you think are the harmful affects of such solutions

Exterior Paint and Coatings
Mosquito Control
Home Solutions
Aakash Tonk
75 months ago

5 answers

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What is the repellent that is in the paint? I do not know of anything that is legal that would stand up to weathering for very long, but there may be something in the international system that might last a while. The use of DDT as a spray-on repellent is a proven method but those are usually described as interior sprays (sometimes around the external eaves underneath the roof.) DDT is obviously not a candidate for such use in most of the world. The sprays that the military and outdoorsmen use as repellents (usually permethrin) can last the life of the uniform with appropriate application and this has been done safely, though there is a possibility of health-related law suits in the future. The life of the uniform, however, is much less than the life of a paint job on a house. At one time, there were internal paints with actual pesticides (not repellents) that were marketed mostly for cockroach control but they didn't last, probably due to poor markets and the potential for health-related law suits.
Your question is about the harmful effects of solutions that apply repellents (not insecticides) to houses during external sprays. Repellents are usually relatively benign compared to insecticides; however, I think the biggest problem would be perception. Long-term exposure to "artificial chemical" leads to public relations problems. People sue the manufacturers for birth defects, cancers, allergies, and many other things that probably have no link to the chemical. Convincing a jury is much easier than disproving the connection.
Another issue is theoretical environmental contamination. We are seeing this with urban chicken flocks in older parts of town where houses were painted with lead-based paint years ago. The siding has been replaced on the houses, but there is still lead contamination from powdered paint in the surrounding soil. there is some evidence that the urban chicken flocks are exposed while foraging near the houses and the lead is concentrated in the eggs, sometimes to the point of exceeding public health guidelines for lead exposure. Would something similar happen with the proposed chemicals in paint as described here? Perhaps. Effects on non-target species (ex. Monarch butterflies) should be considered.
Much of this would depend on what country this is aimed at? In the U.S., I can't see this as a viable use of repellents because the risk posed by mosquito-borne disease is still relatively low. In other, less litigious countries with significant disease risk, perhaps this would be a viable option. All of this depends on efficacy testing to see if it actually works. This depends, in part, on which repellents are being used.
I hope this helps.

David Claborn
75 months ago
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What is the repellent that is in the paint? I do not know of anything that is legal that would stand up to weathering for very long, but there may be something in the international system that might last a while. The use of DDT as a spray-on repellent is a proven method but those are usually described as interior sprays (sometimes around the external eaves underneath the roof.) DDT is obviously not a candidate for such use in most of the world. The sprays that the military and outdoorsmen use as repellents (usually permethrin) can last the life of the uniform with appropriate application and this has been done safely, though there is a possibility of health-related law suits in the future. The life of the uniform, however, is much less than the life of a paint job on a house. At one time, there were internal paints with actual pesticides (not repellents) that were marketed mostly for cockroach control but they didn't last, probably due to poor markets and the potential for health-related law suits.
Your question is about the harmful effects of solutions that apply repellents (not insecticides) to houses during external sprays. Repellents are usually relatively benign compared to insecticides; however, I think the biggest problem would be perception. Long-term exposure to "artificial chemical" leads to public relations problems. People sue the manufacturers for birth defects, cancers, allergies, and many other things that probably have no link to the chemical. Convincing a jury is much easier than disproving the connection.
Another issue is theoretical environmental contamination. We are seeing this with urban chicken flocks in older parts of town where houses were painted with lead-based paint years ago. The siding has been replaced on the houses, but there is still lead contamination from powdered paint in the surrounding soil. there is some evidence that the urban chicken flocks are exposed while foraging near the houses and the lead is concentrated in the eggs, sometimes to the point of exceeding public health guidelines for lead exposure. Would something similar happen with the proposed chemicals in paint as described here? Perhaps. Effects on non-target species (ex. Monarch butterflies) should be considered.
Much of this would depend on what country this is aimed at? In the U.S., I can't see this as a viable use of repellents because the risk posed by mosquito-borne disease is still relatively low. In other, less litigious countries with significant disease risk, perhaps this would be a viable option. All of this depends on efficacy testing to see if it actually works. This depends, in part, on which repellents are being used.
I hope this helps.

David Claborn
75 months ago
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I will be wondering if the effect relevant to other insects. If it may harm bees, flies, wasps and other insects it may cause a wider effect you wouldn't want to achieve.

Dror Tamir
75 months ago
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I wonder how long a repellent will last. Known repellents like DEET have to be applied every few hours to remain effective, and are only effective at short range - covering a door post with repellent won't keep mosquitoes from entering. I can't imagine repellents in paints will last for months or years. Furthermore, covering complete houses with repellent doesn't sound like a very cost-effective method to me. Better to make sure that mosquitoes aren't able to enter houses by systematically seal small openings, and make sure inhabitants sleep under (impregnated) bednets. And, of course, make sure possible breeding sites around the houses are being taken care of.

Rob Andriessen
75 months ago
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Good question. DDT's continued efficacy in protecting people from malaria is due to its repellent characteristics rather than its insecticidal properties to which many of the insects developed resistance. It sticks around for a while but I don't know what effect paint would have on it. It would certainly not stick around for the life of the house. As you mentioned, DEET does not stick around long and neither do any of the other topical repellents. The ones intended for use on clothing are better but I've never heard of them having been developed for use in paint. I don't see this as a viable option unless there is some new chemical I don't know about.

David Claborn
75 months ago

Have some input?