Smoke from fogging machines increasing health risks among Khulna children

Mosquito-repellent spray being used through fogging machines in every ward of the Khulna City Corporation to kill mosquitoes is putting its residents', especially children's, health at risk.

Khulna city dwellers and experts have expressed their concerns in this regard. 

When the spray is used, the entire area gets covered in smoke.

Experts said health risks are increasing due to the pollution caused by this smoke.

Locals said the entire area becomes darkened by smoke when the fogging machine is in use. The smoke also enters people's homes and it becomes difficult to stay inside because of the smell it produces. 

In this situation, especially children start running here and there. This smoke is harmful to the health of everyone.

Officials at the city corporation said this is definitely having a detrimental effect on people's health. In future, caution will be taken in this regard, they assured.

Dhaka Tribune

Akash Shah of the Tutpara area said every week, workers of the KCC come and use fogging machines on the whole area. Though the adults are careful, the children run around in the smoke, which is having a negative impact on their health.

Jabbar Molla, from the Gobarchakar area, said children run out of the house when they hear the sound of a fogging machine. They even play in the smoke which is not taken into account by the people who spray the pesticide.

Abdul Aziz, the head of KCC's conservancy department, said the insecticide used in the fogging machines to repel mosquitoes does not have that harmful an effect but it is not negligible either. Therefore, in the future, those concerned will be instructed to follow caution in this regard.

Dr Swapan Halder, health officer at the KCC, said that the use of mosquito-repellent spray is not only harmful to children's health but harmful to all. It is important to create public awareness about this.

Director of Khulna Divisional Department of Environment (DoE) Md Iqbal Hossain mentioned that mosquito sprays are harmful to the human body.

“Not only is it harmful to children but adults as well. So be careful while spraying pesticides through fogging machines. The employees of the city corporation should also be careful,” he said.

Women's leader Shamima Sultana Shilu, executive director of Masas, an organization working on street children, said there is no alternative to awareness. It is not right to think that only the government will do it. Awareness is needed at all levels of government, concerned officials, civic leaders, local people and families.

Dhaka Tribune

“We all know that mosquito repellents are harmful. Still we don't care because of unawareness. That's why in the afternoon when the pesticide is sprayed, children run out from their houses to play in the smoke.” 

“Awareness is the first step to prevent it. Besides, the idea of changing the time of spraying the medicine should be thought of by those concerned. In the afternoon the children will go out to play. But after the evening the children stay at home. So it is important to think about changing the timing,” she added. 

Dr Mustafa Sarwar, professor at the Urban and Regional Planning department of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet), said that there is a health risk in this smoke.

"There are rules to spreading pesticide with a fogging machine. If one follows that, the pesticide is applied in the right place. It is important to follow the rules. Second, repeated exposure to these fumes can cause dizziness. Chances of physical damage are high in case of constant contact.”

Smoke may enter through a window after spraying. In this case, it is important to be careful, he added.