Cancer-causing mosquito coil banned from local market

Nov 18, 2018 News

A mosquito coil known to cause cancer in humans has been banned by the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control (PTCCB) Board. The coil in question is the Chinese-made Zenden Mosquito Coil for which the entity has denied registration.
A recent registration submission for the mosquito coil revealed the product to be a Class 1A carcinogen. This means that the product is “known to cause cancer in humans”. The product is also said to have the potential to cause germ cell mutation in humans and has been classified as a highly hazardous pesticide (HHP) as it poses significant risk to human health and the environment.
The human health risk linked to exposure to the mosquito coil is believed to be high, according to PTCCB. Additionally, the registration data submitted had numerous other areas of non-compliance, PTCCB outlined in a statement.
The registration denial of the product means that merchants are prohibited from importing, distribution, sale and use of this type of mosquito coil in Guyana. The illegally imported Chinese brand mosquito coil has been an area of focus for the authorities for quite some time. In fact, reports coming from the Pesticide Board suggest that the product had long been suspected to be linked to cancer, thus it has continually been smuggled into the country.
The process of pesticide registration allows the PTCCB to examine the toxicity characteristic of pesticide products to human health and the environment. It therefore allows for more informed decision making regarding the import, distribution, sale and use of such products in Guyana.

Some mosquito coils seized by the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board

The PTCCB has spent years confiscating and disposing of these illegal “Chinese-made mosquito coils” through numerous enforcement exercises.
For this reason, the PTCCB has been and continues to raise awareness on the illegality and possible risks to human health and environment.
Mosquito coils are widely known as an efficient repellent. When a mosquito coil is burned, the insecticides evaporate with the smoke, which prevents the mosquito from entering the room in which it is placed. Exposure to the mosquito coil smoke poses both acute and chronic health risks.
The PTCCB began confiscating illegal mosquito coils in 2008 and to date has confiscated 4,435.08 kg (4.4 tonnes). Of these, approximately 778.80 kg of those confiscated were Zenden mosquito coils.
The PTCCB said that it is committed to continued enforcement activities targeting importers, distributors and retailers of these illegal mosquito coils. This is in keeping with the PTCCB’s mandate to eliminate the importation, sale and use of illegal pesticides, thus reducing their availability.
Currently, the brands of mosquito coils that are registered for sale and use in Guyana and are therefore recommended for use by the PTCCB are: Fish, Protox, Baygon, Raid, Vape and BOP.

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