Analysis of Pesticides and Toxic Heavy Metals Contained in Mosquito Coils

In this study, 10 mosquito coils manufactured in China were obtained in Suriname, South America, where they are used extensively. The coils were analyzed for organics (allethrin, permethrin, and butylated hydroxytoluene) and heavy metals (Cr, Co, As, Cd, and Pb) by GC-MS and ICP-MS, respectively. Allethrin was the only target organic compound detected in all mosquito coils with concentrations ranging from ~1900 to ~4500 µg/g. The concentrations of heavy metals varied as follows (in µg/g): Cr: 2.9–9.4, Co: 0.1–1.2, Cu: 0.7–16.1, Se: 0.10–0.4, Ni: 2.1–5.8, As: 0.10–2.2, Cd: 0.10–0.2, and Pb: 1.1–3.6.