The smoke is a government strategy to control mosquitoes, and consists of passing a car that emits a cloud of low-dose smoke from a pesticide that allows to eliminate most of the adult mosquitoes present in the region. Thus, this is a technique widely used during periods of epidemic to eliminate mosquitoes and to avoid the transmission of diseases like dengue, zika or chikungunya.
Although not the safest way to eliminate mosquitoes, it is quite quick, easy and effective, making it one of the main weapons used against mosquitoes during epidemics.
Generally, the dose used in an application is safe for human health, however, if the application is too frequent the pesticide may accumulate in the body, causing some damage to the nervous system.
Here's how you can safely and naturally eliminate mosquitoes.
What is the pesticide used in the smoke
In Brazil, the pesticide that is used in the spraying of the smoke is the Melatião. This is a laboratory-developed substance that is widely used in agriculture to prevent the development of crop pests.
Once sprayed, the melatião stays in the air for up to 30 minutes, but remains on the surfaces and the ground for up to several weeks, while it is degraded by the sun, wind and rain. Thus, the period in which more care is needed is during the first 30 minutes, in which the pesticide can be easily breathed, reaching to the blood.
Although the doses are even lower, Melatião can still be ingested in food or water contaminated with the pesticide, for example.
How Smoke Can Affect Your Health
Since it is used with long intervals, the smoke does not present danger to the health, since the used dose of melatião is very low.
However, if the smoke is used without discretion, especially by private entities, it can lead to the accumulation of a very high dose in the body, and may cause changes such as:
- Difficulty breathing;
- Feeling of heaviness in the chest;
- Vomiting and diarrhea;
- Blurry vision;
- Headache;
- Fainting.
These symptoms arise because the Melatião acts directly on the central nervous system, which innervates all the organs of the body.
If these symptoms arise after being near a spray of smoke it is very important to go to the hospital immediately to start the appropriate treatment and avoid the appearance of sequelae.
How to reduce the risk of smoke exposure
To reduce the chances of being exposed to a high dose of melatião during a smoke spray, there are some precautions like:
- Avoid being in the spray locations for 1 to 2 hours;
- Stay indoors if a smoke spray is occurring;
- Wash hands, clothing and other objects that have been exposed to spray;
- Thoroughly wash foods that are stored or growing in regions sprayed by smoke before cooking.
Often, the smoke is applied by private entities without care for human health and therefore, if it is observed, it is very important to inform the authorities immediately.
