OREGANO LEAVES AS A MOSQUITO COIL

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University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue

A.C. Cortes Avenue, Looc, Mandaue City

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A Research Proposal Presented to:

Mr. Marlon P. Rico

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In Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Investigatory Project of

ST12P2

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Presented By:

AMANDORON, JAYSON C.

AMOIN, IRAH MAE B.

CABALLERO, NIEL KENT L.

DINOY, AIRA JEAN JOY A.

FELICES, MARIA MELANIE GRACE P.

 Chapter 1

Introduction

Background of the Study

Nowadays, dengue has been a very serious threat to the Filipino people, and

with this, families are forced to use company-made mosquito coil, as it is the cheapest

product used to deal with mosquitoes. Although these kinds of products are the

cheapest, it also poses a very serious threat to the Filipino people. This mosquito coils

contain harmful chemicals that attack the respiratory system. There have also been an

existing remedy to the production of mosquitoes such as insecticides, and anti-

mosquito sprays, however these products also possess harm to the people and to the

environment as they possess the same substances and chemicals found in the

emissions of vehicles and cigarettes. With this, the researchers of this paper would

like to address to this problem by creating a better substitute of this company-made

mosquito coils.

Statement of the Problem

This study seeks the presumption of oregano leaves as a mosquito coil as a

substitution to company-made insecticides and mosquito coils which are usually

inorganic and harmful; it seeks to the following questions/objectives:

1. To provide a better alternative to the consumers.

2. To test and discover its quality in eradicating mosquitoes.

3. Will this product be effective and much safer than the aforementioned

products?

4. Aims to produce mosquito coils out of oregano leaves.

Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial to the Filipino people. This will help the Filipino

people make a home-made organic mosquito coil, which less expensive and more safe

that the usual ones. The Filipino people will be able to make mosquito coil that is

environment-friendly and no side effects to humans with the help of this study.

This study is conducted for the beneficial of the community. The organic

home-made mosquito coil that this study aims to provide is non-toxic to humans, pets,

and safe for the environment since its products are based on natural ingredients. The

community will also be beneficial to this research as it will raise awareness to its

audience on the impacts of rapid production of mosquitoes. That later on leads to the

rapid increase on the incidents on dengue, and not just that, it also will lead to the

increase on the incidents on malaria and Zika virus. This study will also be beneficial

to the environmentalists, ecologists, and such people to promote safety and to give

help

This study will also serve as a future reference to practitioners, scholars, and

future researchers. Certain other organizations may also benefit to this study, such as

the likes of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health

(DOH). These organizations will benefit this study because these organizations are

concerned on the medical problems, preventing and discovering new things about

health on the global and in the local Philippines respectively.

This study may benefit the neighboring countries. If this study will be able to

reach those countries that face the same problem, then they could apply this and

change their approach to the problem.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study is conducted at University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue in 13-

week duration. This research is done by the compliance in the researchers’ academics.

The research design used in this study will be Correlational Research Design and

Observational Study, as the researchers will be testing the quality of the mosquito coil

and observe whether or not it is effective. This investigatory project is limited only to

the following ingredients:

1. Oregano Leaves (Kalabo)

2. Oregano Extract

3. Charcoal

4. Hot Water

5. Gum Powder

This project focuses only to the making of mosquito coil that is not harmful to

the human body.

Hypothesis

This study will have the following as its hypotheses:

1. If oregano leaves are to be used as a mosquito coil, then the production of

mosquitoes at home and on the surroundings will decrease.

2. If mosquitoes were to be placed inside a container with an ignited oregano

mosquito coil, then the mosquitoes will most likely be weakened.

Conceptual Framework

INPUT

 Nature of the oregano

 Nature in making mosquito coil

 Effective method of extracting the oregano leaves with the use of charcoal

PROCESS

 Testing the charcoal from the oregano extract used to substitute to the other

ingredients if it helps minimize the strong smell of the oregano

 Testing of the smell and how effectively of it as a mosquito coil

OUTPUT

 A mosquito coil that uses oregano extract with a chemical used in mosquito

coil.

A mosquito repellent that is easy to make at home with its effectiveness in

decreasing numbers of mosquitoes and to avoid dengue diseases in the Philippines

The Relationship of the Variables in the Study

The independent variables of this project are oregano extract and the charcoal

in which it influences the dependent variable, the mosquitoes.

The mosquitoes offer a great opportunity for the effectiveness of an oregano

leaves and the charcoal in terminating their kind which causes diseases is greatly

increased oregano extract’s efficiency and are more satisfying to be used.

Definition of Terms

Charcoal - a porous black solid, consisting of an amorphous form of carbon, obtained

as a residue when wood, bone, or other organic matter is heated in the absence of

air

Dengue - a debilitating viral disease of the tropics, transmitted by mosquitoes, and

causing sudden fever and acute pains in the joints

Malaria - an intermittent and remittent fever caused by a protozoan parasite that

invades the red blood cells, the parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes in many

tropical and subtropical regions

Mosquito - a slender long-legged fly with aquatic larvae, the bite of the bloodsucking

female can transmit a number of serious diseases including malaria and encephalitis

Oregano - a flowering plant in the mint family that is used as spice and medical purposes
 Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature and Studies

Mosquitoes have the ability to spread harmful diseases that is why they are

considered to be one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet. The rate of

infection has risen dramatically over the past few years.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Dengue is a mosquito-

borne viral infection that can cause a severe flu-like illness, and sometimes can cause

a potentially lethal complication. Severe dengue which was previously called as

dengue hemorrhagic fever was recognized in the 1950s in the Philippines and

Thailand.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), data showed a total of 84,085

dengue cases recorded from January to December 2016. So far, the highest number of

deaths of the year 2017 was from Central Visayas with 65 recorded deaths as of

August 6. The mosquito called Aedes aegypti is the main vector who transmits the

viruses to their victim and can cause dengue. Once infected, the human will be the

source and carriers of the virus for uninfected mosquitoes. Like most viruses, there is

no specific treatment.

Another prevalent disease spread by mosquito bites is called Malaria. It is

caused by parasites, primarily Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax. The

parasites develop in a mosquito’s body for 10 to 18 days, then is passed on to the

victim when the mosquito injects saliva while feeding. Once the parasite is inside the

human body, they migrate to the liver, where they can grow and multiply. They move

to the blood stream and develop in red blood cells, and as they multiply, they destroy
the blood cell. The infection can produce severe reactions, if left untreated; it can

cause kidney failure and death. Transmission also depends on climatic conditions that

can affect the survival of mosquitoes, such as rainfall patterns, temperature and

humidity of the area. In most places, transmission of virus is seasonal, with the peak

during the rainy season.

From January 1 to December 31, 2016, a total of 6922 malaria cases were

recorded nationwide. Out of the 6922 cases, 366 were classified as severe malaria,

and 7 deaths were reported. Malaria deaths reached 445 000 in 2016 worldwide

(WHO, 2016).

According to the Department of Health (DOH), Zika Virus infection is caused

by flavivirus. It is transmitted through the bite of the same infected mosquito that

caused dengue. However, Zika virus can also be spread sexually, especially if

unprotected. Zika virus is found in blood, urine, amniotic fluids, semen, saliva as well

as body fluids found in the brain and spinal cord. Common symptoms include fever,

joint pain, conjunctivitis, and skin rash. Most people infected with Zika (80%) have

no symptoms or don’t realize they have it because of the typically mild symptoms.

On 13 April 2016, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

released a report confirming that the Zika virus does cause a rare birth defect called

microcephaly which is a condition where a baby’s head is smaller than those of other

babies of the same age and sex.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial announced that as

of February 2, 2017, there were 57 Zika cases in the country Philippines and no

deaths from Zika Virus were recorded. National Capital Region has the most number
cases with 20. CALABARZON with 18 cases, Western Visayas with 15 cases,

Central Luzon with 2 cases and Central Visayas with 2 cases.

With these numbers, Filipinos are forced to use the cheapest remedy to such

massive national problems, the use of mosquito coils.

A journal written by Hogarh, Antwi-Agye, and Obiri-Danso (2016), states that

the use of mosquito coils has gained widespread patronage in malaria-endemic

countries, especially Ghana. Only about a quarter of the population in Ghana (25%)

are using mosquito nets. Relatively, few households can afford insecticide-based IRS

because of the cost involved. A greater majority of households, especially the urban

poor and rural dwellers, use mosquito coils to control/repel the mosquito. The

consumer market for mosquito coils was estimated at one billion dollars globally in

2006, accounting for almost 12% of the global market for pesticides in that year.

Currently, the use of mosquito coils occupies a certain niche in the control of

mosquitoes in poor countries that need to be taken into action. Mosquito coils are not

officially included in malaria control programs in Ghana, yet they are widely

consumed in the country, especially among the rural and urban poor.

Despite its potential benefit as a mosquito repellent, mosquito coils may

generate undesirable emissions, which may lead to the source of indoor air pollution.

The base material of the mosquito coil is mainly organic in nature, consisting of

organic fillers, binders, dyes, and other additives capable of burning slowly to

gradually release the insecticide with smoke. Mosquito coil smoke emissions may

contain pollutants such as carbon monoxide, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic

hydrocarbons (PAHs), aldehydes, ketones and a suite of volatile organic compounds

(VOCs). These are mostly products of incomplete combustion, a reflection of the fact

that most mosquito coils are designed to burn inefficiently to facilitate the slow
release of the insecticide. Exposures to these airborne emissions have various health

implications. For instance, in a particular manner, it may trigger acute respiratory

infections (ARIs), while VOCs and PAHs can be potentially carcinogenic.

A summary of research projects and publications regarding mosquitoes was

made by Dr. Cameron Webb in the year 2015, he stressed that the use of pyrethrum

in incense is a common practice in Asia. Modern mosquito coils that mostly contain

pyrethroid insecticides are seen to be used at camp sites and backyards during

summer. Despite the wide range of products available, the active ingredients in

mosquito repelling products do not vary in their content. They are either synthetic

pyrethroids or botanical extracts (e.g citronella oil, eucalyptus oil.). He also

addressed that a study of mosquito coils sold and found in the United States, some

mosquito coils contain octachlorodipropyl ether (s-2) that, during the smoldering of

the coils, it produces an extremely potent lung carcinogen as a byproduct called

(bis(chloromethyl)ether (BCME)). Millions of families across tropical countries use

them as their primary source of mosquito-borne disease prevention because they are

cheap and generally effective.

A journal written by Ogoma, Moore, and Maia (2012), states that coils

containing pyrethrins deter between 45% and 80% mosquitoes and 200mg of

optimized metofluthrin emanators reduce mosquitoes by a percentage greater than

80% within the first 4 weeks of treatment. However, results from other studies cannot

be generalized for other spatial repellent compounds due to its potential differences in

product formulation i.e., optimized components for release and retention. Only one

study measured dose-dependent effects of pyrethrum coils and showed no correlation

between the proportion of mosquitoes deterred and the dose of pyrethrum. Reduced

indoor density of mosquitoes in insecticide treated houses could be due to the spatial
action of chemical actives which interfere with the host seeking process of

mosquitoes. In addition, mosquitoes entering treated houses are prevented from

feeding. Such observations are still under further investigation.

Although these company-made inorganic mosquito coils bring such effective

remedies to the production of mosquitoes, it pose a very serious threat to the people

and to the environment as well.

A study of Zhang et al. (2010) entitled Using Charcoal as Base Material

Reduces Moquito Coil Emissions of Toxins showed a data estimation on indoor

concentrations of toxic compounds generated from coil uses. It indicated that the

emission rates of toxic compounds depend on types of base materials. Using charcoal

as the base material of the study to get an actual comparison of its emission rates with

those of several company-made products, resulted that charcoal-based coil had

emission rates of PM2.5 mass, total particle number, PAHs, and aldehydes,

substantially (up to 10 times) lower than other tested conventional mosquito coils.

The smoke from a mosquito coil is concretely related with the dangers of

smoking, may it be in indirect inhalation or second hand. Sure Product’s (2014) study

found out that the smoke from one mosquito coil burnt from beginning to end releases

particulates into the air that are equivalent to between 75 and 135 cigarettes. That

would be like sleeping in a room with a chain smoker while smoking a few packs of

cigarettes, not something somebody would voluntarily do. Some studies have found

prolonged use of mosquito coils to be harmful to several organs in the body; this can

lead to corneal damage to the eye, shortness of breath, asthma, damage to the liver in

long term use and even fertility issues in both men and women.

It has been found out that mosquito coils releases formaldehyde; a mosquito

coil is equivalent of 50 cigarettes. Formaldehyde is not an ingredient in mosquito coils

but a byproduct generated when the coils are burnt. Formaldehyde primarily affects

the nose and inhaling it can cause watery eyes, sore throat, coughing, wheezing,

nausea and skin irritations. Formaldehyde has also been linked to nasal and sinus

cancers and leukemia.

Presented from the study that recently, in China, an even more worrying

chemical has been found in mosquito coils—Otachlorodipropyl Ether or S-2 (a

synergist to increase the effectiveness of the active ingredient). When burnt by the

smouldering mosquito coil S-2 degenerates into BCME (an extremely potent lung

carcinogen), Bis (chloromethyl) Ether.

In their study on the mosquito coils and health implications, Liu et al. (2003)

showed that burning mosquito coils indoors generates smoke that can control

mosquitoes effectively. The practice is currently used in numerous households in

Asia, Africa, and South America. However, the smoke may contain pollutants of

health concern.

According to them, they conducted this study to characterize the emissions

from four common brands of mosquito coils from China and two common brands

from Malaysia. They researchers used mass balance equations to determine emission

rates of fine particles (particulate matter < 2.5 microm in diameter; PM(2.5)),

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aldehydes, and ketones. They found out,

having applied those measured emission rates to predict indoor concentrations under

realistic room conditions, that pollutant concentrations resulting from burning

mosquito coils could substantially exceed health-based air quality standards or

guidelines.
 Moreover, under the same combustion conditions, the tested Malaysian

mosquito coils generated more measured pollutants than did the tested Chinese

mosquito coils. As they have identified, a large suite of volatile organic compounds,

including carcinogens and suspected carcinogens, in the coil smoke. In a set of

experiments conducted in a room, they examined the size distribution of particulate

matter contained in the coil smoke and found that the particles were ultrafine and fine.

In actual fact, the findings from the study suggest that exposure to the smoke

of mosquito coils similar to the tested ones can bring significant acute and chronic

health risks.

According to Malar (2011), plant-based repellent products are commonly

perceived as “safe” in comparison to long-established synthetic repellents. That is

why oregano leaves can be safely used as a mosquito coil repellent due to its

substances that can lower the numbers of mosquitoes in a certain area rather than

company-made mosquito repellents. According to Webb (2015), the adverse health

impact concerns are growing which is associated with the burning of mosquito coils

and sticks indoors. It is important to consider not just what is released by these

smouldering products but actual likelihood it poses a serious health risk.

According to the study of oregano plant that is cited by Eupena (2014),

Oregano is a medicinal herb known for its antioxidant and anti-microbial properties. It

is used for the treatment of indigestion problems, muscle pain, insect bites, and

menstruation symptoms, bacterial and fungal infections. Dried leaves of oregano are

commonly used for the therapeutic purposes it contains iron, vitamins, calcium,

magnesium, copper, niacin and thiamine. With her study, oregano plants really have a

lot of substances that helps fight mosquitoes. This organic mosquito repellent by the
use of oregano leaf extract has gained its effectiveness due to its evidences of

substituent that are agents in reducing insects especially mosquitoes.

According to Nordqvist (2017), possible medicinal uses of oregano include

treating respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, menstrual cramps,

and urinary tract disorders. It may also help treat a number of skin conditions, such as

acne and dandruff. This entails that through the usage of plant-based products there

are lot of things that people can do to prevent any disorders or to all insects since

oregano has its fighting agent to fight against insects that can possibly transferred

diseases. Oregano also have thymol and rosmarinic acid, these are the main

components of oregano leaves that fight mostuitoes.

The mosquito coil will then serve as an incense that help repel mosquitoes,

and also bring further positive effects to human.

 Chapter 3

Methodology

The ingredients needed for this project are as follows:

 Oregano Leaves (Kalabo) (Approximately 30 eaves)

 Oregano Extract (4 Spoonful; an after product of the oregano leaves itself

 Crushed Charcoal (4 Spoonful)

 Gum Powder (20 Grams)

 Hot Water

The materials needed are as follows:

 Bowl

 Mortar and Pestle

Procedures:

1. Extract the juice from the freshly-picked oregano leaves by simply squeezing

it. Prepare a bowl for the juice, this will then serve as the oregano extract.

Then, store the extract until it is needed, placing it in a jar will do. Doing this

will result two products, the leaves itself and its extract.

2. Sundry the oregano leaves by leaving it under the sun for at least 2 days. By

doing this, you will be able to create a more ignitable material.

3. After sun drying the oregano leaves, pulverize it using the mortar and pestle.

Pulverizing the oregano leaves will enable us to distribute it evenly throughout

the mixture.

4. In a bowl, mix 20 grams of gum powder, 4 spoonful of crushed charcoal, 10

spoonful of dried oregano leaves, then add at least 4 spoonful of oregano

 extract (the extract that was preserved 2 days before) and 100 mL hot water.

Then, mix thoroughly until consistency of the mixture is achieved. This

mixture will serve as the base of our mosquito coil.

5. Lastly, mold the mixed ingredients in a spiral shape, then let it dry for at least

2 days under the sun. You can then use this product by lighting the outer end

of the spiral.