Illegal mosquito agarbattis pose major health risk, warn doctors ahead of National Dengue Day
Mumbai, May 13 (TNT): Illegal mosquito repellent agarbattis used in households across India may be posing a greater immediate health risk than mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, according to a comprehensive public health study released here on Wednesday ahead of National Dengue Day on May 16.
The study, commissioned by the Home Insect Control Association (HICA) and conducted by market research firm Kantar Group, found that while 95 per cent of surveyed households did not report mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue or malaria during the past year, nearly 70 per cent of doctors classified illegal mosquito agarbattis containing unapproved chemicals as a “major respiratory hazard”.
According to the survey, 67 per cent of doctors compared the health risks posed by the smoke emitted from such products to cigarette smoke exposure.
The study was conducted across 12 cities involving 1,264 households and 405 doctors, including pulmonologists, paediatricians, general physicians and gynaecologists.
It highlighted growing concern over the widespread use of unregulated mosquito repellent agarbattis inside homes.
The report estimated the mosquito repellent agarbatti market in India at around ₹2,000 crore, with nearly 85 per cent allegedly dominated by illegal or unregulated products lacking mandatory Central Insecticides Registration (CIR) approval, ingredient disclosure and government certification.
The products are reportedly sold under various names such as Comfort, Sleepwell, Relax, Sun-Relax, Subhanithra, Hunting Tiger, High Voltage, Happy Night, Dengue Killer and Hi-Power.
The study found that nearly 59 per cent of households use such products, while around half of the users have been using them daily for over three years.
Secretary and Director of Home Insect Control Association, Jayant Deshpande, said a large share of mosquito agarbattis available at local shops and chemist outlets were untested and lacked mandatory CIR registration numbers.
“Consumers should look for products that clearly display the CIR registration number and avoid those with vague claims or missing regulatory disclosures,” he said.
Doctors surveyed in the report expressed concern over the health impact of prolonged exposure. Around 84 per cent linked regular use of illegal mosquito agarbattis to increasing household healthcare costs.
The study also pointed to a major awareness gap among consumers. Nearly 48 per cent of respondents believed a product sold at a chemist shop was automatically safe, a perception that 56 per cent of doctors termed dangerous.
Further, nearly 50 per cent of consumers considered herbal or citronella-based mosquito repellents safe, while 66 per cent of doctors warned that such products could carry higher risks due to misleading claims and lack of regulatory oversight.
The report stated that nearly 55 per cent of doctors believed families remained unaware of safer and approved mosquito repellent alternatives and continued using illegal mosquito agarbattis because of easy availability.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Sanjith Saseedharan, Director-Critical Care at S. L. Raheja Hospital, said prolonged exposure to smoke from illegal mosquito repellents could cause respiratory irritation and aggravate health problems, especially among children, elderly people, asthma patients and those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
He said some unregulated products may contain toxic substances such as pyrethroids, organophosphates and heavy metals, which could lead to coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulties with continuous indoor exposure.
The findings underline the need for stronger enforcement against illegal mosquito repellent products and greater public awareness to ensure that mosquito protection measures do not compromise long-term health, the report added.
TNT TS
