Perfume Ingredient To Solve The Global Threat Of Mosquitoes
The menace of mosquito-borne diseases is increasing rapidly to become a global problem. Various solutions are being undertaken by governments but households also need to share in the responsibility. In order to avoid serious diseases arising from mosquito bites, households need Deet free repellent in Australia particularly for babies and children.
Scientists from the University of Pretoria have found out that perfume can be the solution to the growing threat of outdoor mosquitoes that have become immune to topical repellents. The mixture was created from ingredients that are used in making perfumes. The negative pseudo-azeotrope can retain the same composition whether in vapour or liquid state. Like perfume, evaporation is relatively slow so that it stays on the skin longer.
Lead scientist Walter Focke who is a professor at a department of chemical engineering wrote in The Conversation that they used nonanoicacid; a compound used by the food industry as additive and added it to ethyl butylacetylaminipropionate or more commonly known as IR3535, an ingredient in most repellents.
The formula was tested on a volunteer’s arm which was placed on a cup containing 20 hungry female mosquitoes from the Anopheles Arabiensis specie. Also used in the testing is a second cup that was placed on the individual’s arm that has no repellent. After 3 minutes, the scientists counted the number of mosquito bites on the individual’s arms.
It was found out that the new formula prevented mosquito bites for at least 6 hours. Mosquitoes that came into contact with the formula were also killed. According to the scientists, the formula can be developed into a commercially-viable repellent that people can use outdoors.
The World Health Organization has suggested tried-and-tested methods like insecticide-treated nets and indoor spraying to protect them against malaria-carrying mosquitoes but they failed to provide a solution for the mosquito threat outdoors. This undermines the recommended indoor solution for malaria prevention.
Aside from malaria, there are other serious diseases that are carried by mosquitoes which requires Deet free repellent in Australia for protection. Deet is a common repellent in the market but it has a strong odor, high absorption rate and an oily fee. It is also irritating for some types of skin.