Objectives

1. The purpose of this study is to identify the effectiveness and acceptability of apple cider
vinegar as a mosquito repellent.
2. To compare the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar and other mosquito repellents.
3. To determine the component of apple cider vinegar that repels mosquitoes.

Introduction

Repellents are substances that help people avoid mosquito bites. Anyone working or
playing in mosquito-infested areas will find repellents very helpful. Repellents are formulated for
use on bare skin. They are sold as aerosols, creams, solids (sticks), pump sprays and liquids. Use
repellents containing ingredients such as diethyl phthalate, diethyl carbate; N, N-Diethyl-3-
Methylbenzamide (DEET), metofluthrin, oil of lemon-eucalyptus, picaridin and ethyl
hexanediol. Repellents do not kill mosquitoes and other insects, but they will help deter them from
biting people.

Apple Cider Vinegar, also called as the Malus pumila Mill. contains a lot of nutrients. Made
from the fermented juice of crushed apples, it contains vitamin B1, B2, B6, biotin and niacin. It
also has small amounts of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and magnesium. With an acetic
acidity level of 5%, its fragrance is unpleasant to a mosquito’s keen senses. It’s mostly apple juice,
but adding yeast turns the fruit sugar into alcohol -- this is fermentation. Bacteria turn the alcohol
into acetic acid. That’s what gives vinegar its sour taste and strong smell.

Vinegar has been used as a remedy since the days of Hippocrates. The ancient Greek doctor
treated wounds with it. In recent years, people have explored apple cider vinegar as a way to lose
weight, improve heart health, and even treat dandruff.

Many of these claims aren’t supported by modern research. But some studies have found
that acetic acid -- which gives vinegar its distinctive taste and smell -- may help with a variety of
conditions:

 Japanese scientists found that drinking vinegar might help reduce obesity.

 One small study found that vinegar improved blood sugar and insulin levels in a group of
people with type 2 diabetes

Significance of the Study

The world is gradually turning to herbal formulations which are known to be effective
against a large repertoire of diseases and ailments. More importantly, they are not known to cause
any notable derogatory effects and are readily available at affordable prices. However, adding a
note of caution stating that natural remedies are effective and without side-effects, provided they
are selected properly and taken under proper medical supervision.

The apple cider vinegar mosquito repellent is needed now more than ever, considering
how the Philippines is overrun with dengue cases.

The amount of dengue cases for the first quarter of 2019 is 245 percent higher than that of
last year, according to the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU). Dengue is a
mosquito-borne viral disease that has rapidly spread in recent years. Dengue virus is transmitted
by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti and, to a lesser extent, Ae. albopictus.
This mosquito also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika infection. Dengue is widespread
throughout the tropics, with local variations in risk influenced by rainfall, temperature and
unplanned rapid urbanization.

Through the use of a natural repellant such as apple cider vinegar, we would be able to
prevent dengue in the first place and also avoid the Dengvaxia scenario which was a laboratory-
formulated injection gone wrong.

References:

“Apple Cider Vinegar Health Benefits - Why It's Good for You.” WebMD, WebMD,
www.webmd.com/diet/apple-cider-vinegar-and-your-health.

“Apple Cider Vinegar.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 July 2019,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_cider_vinegar.

“Repellents.” Repellents - American Mosquito Control Association,

www.mosquito.org/page/repellents.