The Control of Mosquitoes Through the Use of Chemicals Paper Example

Aspects of Scenario

The control of mosquitoes through the use of chemicals is important because it helps to suppress the population of adult mosquitoes as well as in the killing of their larvae, thus reducing their future multiplication and subsequent population. Some of the chemicals that have been employed include insecticides sprayed using trucks, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft to kill adult mosquitoes. The two common type of insecticides includes malathion and permethrin. According to Mosquito World (2018), Malathion is an organophosphate often used in the treatment of crops against any type of insects. They are commonly sprayed directly on to the vegetation harbouring the insects such is in the bushes where mosquitoes are found.

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On the other hand, Mosquito World (2018) describes permethrin as a type of pyrethroids and a synthetic type of a natural insecticide that is extracted from chrysanthemum flowers. Both Malathion and permethrin kill mosquitoes through their ability to disrupt their central nervous systems. In small quantities, both of these insecticides are not toxic to humans and animals.

Hazard Investigation

Even though Malathion and permethrin have been essential chemicals in the killing of mosquitoes and subsequent reduction in the prevalence of malaria, their wide application has raised environmental health issues. According to CDC (2015), Malathion exposure can have adverse impacts on the health of the affected individuals. First, it has been found to interfere with the nervous system of the victims, thus affecting other organs and functions. Also, exposure to high quantities of this chemical has been found to lead to breathing difficulties, headaches, salivation, blurred vision, watery eyes, diarrhoea, cramps, vomiting, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and death (Dikshith, 2016; Kim, Kabir, & Jahan, 2017). Additionally, children exposed to Malathion have been reported to birth and developmental effects (Tchounwou, Patlolla, Yedjou, & Moore, 2015).

Environmental fate of Malathion has been widely reported in the literature. For instance, according to Bradman et al. (1994) and Getenga, Jondiko, Wandiga, and Beck (2000), malathion has half-lives in soil ranging from 1 to 17 days. Its extractable residues in the soil undergo rapid decline because of metabolism by soil microorganisms, soil binding, and volatilisation. On the other hand, its degradation in water is affected by pH and temperature. Its half-life of in water is 1.65 days at pH of 8.16 and 17.4 days at a pH of 6.0 (Wang, 1991).

Human Exposure Information

Exposure to the chemical in most of the people does not occur through the inhaled air or the things being touched unless these people are neighbouring the areas being sprayed. However, the people at the highest risk of exposure to Malathion are those working with the chemical. This category of individuals includes those who work in factories manufacturing the chemical, those who spray the chemicals, and farm workers. These group of people are exposed to the chemical through touching, via the skin, or inhalation when they are spraying. Other susceptible populations include those living near landfills where the chemical has been dumped and bordering water bodies containing Malathion from nearby land or accidentally spilt.

Prevention Information

Several ways have been proposed for prevention of exposure to the chemicals used in the killing of mosquitoes. In the case of Malathion, prevention is achieved through the wearing of the respirator and wearing of protective clothing when working with the chemical, and washing clothes and self thoroughly immediately after being exposed to the chemical as well as at the end of the work shift. It is also important to make the members of the public aware of post hazard and warning information regarding these chemicals. Lastly, as part of continuing awareness on the potential health hazards of these chemicals, it is vital to communicate all information concerning the health effects associated with the use of Malathion to those who might be exposed to it (New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, 2004).

Innovative Solutions

Because of the harmful impacts of the use of insecticides in the killing of mosquitoes, innovative solutions have been suggested. For instance, according to Poulin, Lefebvre, Muranyi-Kovacs, and Hilaire (2017), mosquito traps can be used as an alternative to spraying insecticide. The use of these traps has been found to reduce the mosquito nuisance by 70%. Additionally, unlike insecticides, this technique is cheaper and has no hazards on both the environment and the people.

Monitoring

Monitoring of the health status of the community concerning the mosquito problem and efforts to eliminate mosquitoes through sprays can be done in several ways. For instance, the health status of the community can be monitored through health facility-based surveys (Oduro et al., 2016) and health centre surveys (Oduro et al., 2011). These surveys are done periodically to determine whether or not the prevalence of malaria decreases following the implementation of mosquito elimination programme.

Evaluation

The evaluation of the solutions can be carried out using outcomes evaluation design. According to CDC (2012), Outcome evaluations assess the progress of the program based on the outcomes the program seeks to address. Outcome-based evaluation is a systematic way to evaluate the extent to which a program has achieved its intended results (Apgar & LSW, 2017; Grinnell, Gabor, & Unrau, 2015). In the current malaria program, outcome evaluations will include one key outcome: changes in trends of malarial morbidity and mortality. One of the strengths associated with outcome evaluation is that it can detect whether a program is successful or not in achieving intended results. It also helps the evaluator to have a clearly identify its clients, the desired results, and how the benefits of the results (Othieno, 2011). On the other hand, the limitations of outcome evaluation are that it suggests a causal relationship but do not prove it (Othieno, 2011).

Social Change

Even though insecticides, like malathion, have helped to reduce the population of mosquitoes and to reduce the prevalence of malaria, there is a need for the society and healthcare professionals to adopt eco-friendly strategies in curbing malaria. One of these strategies involves the use of traps. These are meant to prevent the adverse health impacts of insecticides such as increased prevalence of cancer.

References

Apgar, D., & LSW, A. (2017). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Success. Springer Publishing Company.

Bradman, M. A., Harnly, M. E., Goldman, L. R., Marty, M. A., Dawson, S. V., & Dibartolomeis, M. J. (1994). Malathion and malaoxon environmental levels used for exposure assessment and risk characterization of aerial applications to residential areas of southern California, 1989-1990. Journal of exposure analysis and environmental epidemiology, 4(1), 49-63.

CDC (2015). Toxic Substances Portal - Malathion. Retrieved from https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=517&tid=92Dikshith, T. S. S. (2016). Handbook of chemicals and safety. CRC Press.

Getenga, Z. M., Jondiko, J. I. O., Wandiga, S. O., & Beck, E. (2000). Dissipation behavior of malathion and dimethoate residues from the soil and their uptake by garden pea (Pisum sativum). Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology, 64(3), 359-367.

Getenga, Z. M., Jondiko, J. I. O., Wandiga, S. O., & Beck, E. (2000). Dissipation behavior of malathion and dimethoate residues from the soil and their uptake by garden pea (Pisum sativum). Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology, 64(3), 359-367.

Grinnell, R. M., Gabor, P. A., & Unrau, Y. A. (2015). Program Evaluation for Social Workers: Foundations of Evidence-based Practice. Oxford University Press, USA.

Kim, K. H., Kabir, E., & Jahan, S. A. (2017). Exposure to pesticides and the associated human health effects. Science of The Total Environment, 575, 525-535.

Mosquito World (2014). Mosquito insecticide. Retrieved from http://www.mosquitoworld.net/mosquito-control/insecticide/New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (2004). Retrieved from http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1150.pdf

Oduro, A. R., Bojang, K. A., Conway, D. J., Corrah, T., Greenwood, B. M., & Schellenberg, D. (2011). Health Centre Surveys as a Potential Tool for Monitoring Malaria Epidemiology by Area and over Time. PLOS ONE, 6(11), e26305. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0026305

Oduro, A. R., Maya, E. T., Akazili, J., Baiden, F., Koram, K., & Bojang, K. (2016). Monitoring malaria using health facility based surveys: challenges and limitations. BMC Public Health, 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2858-7

Othieno, J. (2011). Outcome based evaluation: planning, process & implementation. Retrieved from https://healtorture.org/content/outcome-based-evaluation-planning-process-implementation

Poulin, B., Lefebvre, G., Muranyi-Kovacs, C., & Hilaire, S. (2017). Mosquito Traps: An Innovative, Environmentally Friendly Technique to Control Mosquitoes. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(3), 313.

Tchounwou, P. B., Patlolla, A. K., Yedjou, C. G., & Moore, P. D. (2015). Environmental exposure and health effects associated with Malathion toxicity. In Toxicity and Hazard of Agrochemicals. InTech.

Wang, T. (1991). Assimilation of malathion in the Indian River estuary, Florida. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 47(2), 238-243.