Best Mosquito Barriers

At the first sign of mosquitos, most people simply head for their local drug store to pick up a can of insect repellent. Alternatively, others opt for unloading chemical sprays around their home and in their gardens. While chemical insect repellents certainly can be an effective way of dealing with severe mosquito problems, there are a number of potentially dangerous side effects to both the health and the environment.

A recent study by a pharmacologist from Duke University found that DEET, one of the most common insecticides used in insect repellents, could cause a number of adverse health effects on humans exposed to the chemical, including dizziness, skin irritation, nausea, burning on the lips, and impaired cognitive function.

Furthermore, the study revealed that prolonged exposure to DEET (imagine families spraying up on a nightly basis) can also cause brain cell death and even behavioral changes. The recommendation that came out of the study was for people to choose repellents that did not contain DEET, even if they were less effective at repelling mosquitos and other bothersome insects.

In other parts of the world, where mosquito-borne diseases are common and a serious health issue, the burning of mosquito coils inside homes is a common practice. These mosquito coils contain a number of chemical ingredients, including aldehyde, formaldehyde, fine and ultrafine particles, and benzene. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agrees that many of these chemicals are known human carcinogens.

While many mosquito coils (and other mosquito repellents) containing these chemicals are banned in the United States, these products can still make their way into the country via global trade.

Many prominent scientists and healthcare leaders have begun to recommend switching chemical-based repellent products for more natural forms of protection from mosquitos. These products can include a host of natural products, including essential oils, garlic, and other plant-based repellents.

The most important benefit of opting for a natural repellent like a mosquito barrier is that you will avoid the need to use harsh chemical insecticides. As we mentioned above, the extended use of chemical repellents will expose you and your family to potential human carcinogens. Furthermore, chemical repellents can lead to respiratory problems, especially for those who suffer from asthma. It has also been shown that children living in homes or areas where chemical repellents are regularly applied are at a much higher risk for developing leukemia or other types of cancer in young people.

On an environmental level, insecticides that contain Neonicotinoids have been found to be lethal to a number of non-target insects, including earthworms and bumblebees. Bees are an important species for our civilization as they are responsible for pollinating a large number of the food crops we depend on. Earthworms play an important part in maintaining long-term soil fertility.

Another major benefit related to mosquito barriers is that they are an efficient and economical way to deal with mosquito infestations around your home. Just one spray around your home and yard should be effective enough to keep mosquitoes at bay for upwards of a month—depending on the frequency of rainfall in your region. While the garlic and sulfur smell will still affect mosquitoes after several weeks, the rather unpleasant garlic smell will become completely undetectable to humans within 30 minutes after application.

Finally, mosquito barrier products are DIY-friendly, meaning that you can treat the mosquito problem around your home without having to hire a professional. Not only will this save you money, but you will also be able to determine the frequency of each spray application depending on the number of mosquitos you detect around your home and yard.