Insect sprays are used to repel harmful insects. However, their use should always be done with caution.
What is an insect spray?
Insect sprays are used to repel harmful insects. Under an insect spray is understood a means that serves to repel insects. These are usually aerosol containers that deliver a chemical insecticide. Spraying kills different types of insects, such as wasps, mosquitoes, moths, cockroaches or flies. Some of these can be dangerous to humans. Protection from certain insect species may be desirable for various reasons. For example, some species pose a risk of contamination, such as flies that have previously roosted in a dung heap and thus carry disease germs or fecal remains on their bodies. Clothes moths, in turn, can leave holes in garments, while mosquitoes inflict unpleasantly itchy bites on people and sometimes transmit diseases. For this reason, insect repellents, which include insect sprays, are used in the home and contain insecticides.
Forms, types and kinds
Insecticides can be easily distributed by an insect spray in living spaces, where they usually kill all insects. However, this includes beneficial insects such as bees. Moderate use is therefore advised. Insect sprays can be equipped with different insecticides. Common active ingredients include pyrethrum, pyrethroids and piperonyl butoxide. Pyrethrum is one of the oldest insecticides used as a pesticide. It is produced from dried flowers of various Chrysanthemum species. The insecticidal effect of the agent is considered to be very strong. However, there is only a low toxicity for animals at the same temperature. Pyrethroids, which are semisynthetic compounds, are considered to be variations of pyrethrum active ingredients. Their potency is considerably higher. They also prove to be more environmentally stable. The best-known active ingredients of this type used in insect sprays include transfluthrin, tetramethrin, and permethrin. Piperonyl butoxide is not an insecticide. However, as a synergist, the substance is often used in insect sprays on the basis of pyrethroid. It can be used to enhance the effect of pyrethroids. Some insect sprays also contain the active ingredient caprylic acid. They are considered to be biological agents and do not constitute a neurotoxin. Caprylic acid allows the chitinous shell, which is vital for insects, to be detached.
Structure and mode of operation
Composed of an aerosol bottle from which the insecticide is delivered by a burst of spray, an insecticide spray is usually used. The sprays contain chemicals such as organophosphorus compounds, of which the action of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase is blocked. Acetylcholine is a transmitting substance within the nerve center. In the neuromuscular synapse, the substance is released by motor neurons. This results in stimulation of muscle contraction while the nerves are permanently excited. The pyrethroids frequently contained in insect sprays are among the nerve poisons and exert their effects as contact poisons. Humans as well as various mammals are equipped with endogenous enzymes by which the pyrethroids are broken down. For this reason, the insecticides can hardly have any effect on them. However, since insects do not have such enzymes, death sets in quickly. Permethrin, which is absorbed by the pests through their body surface, is also lethal to insects. Subsequently, it spreads throughout the insect’s body. Permethrin is also found in products for dogs. Thus, the substance fights mites, fleas, ticks and lice. However, unlike dogs, permethrin is not suitable for cats. Since their organism is not able to break down the active substance, it leads to death in them. Although the use of insect sprays is controversial, they have several advantages over other insect repellents. For example, the use of a fly swatter, although a natural means, is not effective enough, because insects often hide and settle in other places. Light sources that are under high voltage, on the other hand, often remain ineffective on mosquitoes, so an insect spray is often the most effective means.
Medical and health benefits
Insect sprays should always be used with caution. If they are overdosed, people are at risk of unpleasant side effects. These include burning eyes, redness of the skin, tingling and itching. However, these problems are usually temporary. When inhaling larger amounts of pryethroid, there is a risk of anxiety, impaired vision, hearing, dizziness, nausea and headaches. To be reconsidered is the use of insect sprays when babies are in the house. They have fewer enzymes available for detoxification. Because of the chemical ingredients in insect sprays, their use is sometimes justifiably criticized. However, the means can also contribute to the protection of health. The use of insect sprays is considered useful against pests that can transmit pathogens, such as mosquitoes or flies. The sprays can also prevent sometimes severe allergic reactions, as they can be triggered by wasps. Wasp stings are particularly unpleasant, as the wasp can sting several times. Sometimes infections are also triggered. Through the regular and professional use of insect sprays, it is possible to protect people from damage to their health caused by insects. This includes serious diseases such as malaria, West Nile fever or yellow fever. The premises where the sprays were applied should not be entered for several hours after spraying.
