Anti-MosquiCoat: integration of extracts and wastes into an anti-mosquito paint

<p>Sam Tyra Co and Erika Vixeen Dia</p>

Anti-MosquiCoat: integration of extracts and wastes into an anti-mosquito paint

Sam Tyra Co and Erika Vixeen Dia

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Philippines

: Expert Opin Environ Biol

Abstract

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastics are one of the major contributors of wastes in the Philippines. These plastics also become the breeding ground of mosquitoes that carries dengue viruses, a mosquito-borne disease that is harmful to humans. In this study, PET plastics components are combined with citronella extracts to create a special indoor paint specifically made to repel and knockdown mosquitoes. With the properties of PET bottles, this shows the potential to be recycled into a paint component. Furthermore, with the prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases, it is timely to create an architectural product to fight against this uprising problem in the Philippines with the integration of citronella oil extracts, PET plastic bottles, and permethrin into paint. This would benefit especially the children who are most vulnerable to mosquito-borne diseases. By creating a new alternative anti-mosquito paint, this would lessen the prevalence of mosquito borne diseases and because of the integration of plastic wastes in the paint; this would also help contribute in the reduction of solid wastes in the country.