…cancer risk citedSome 1713.36 pounds of a Chinese branded mosquito coil have been confiscated by the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) as the “Zenden Mosquito Coil” has been found to be carcinogenic or cancer causing. This was disclosed by the Agriculture Ministry, which on Saturday explained that the PTCCB recently denied registration of the coil which bans its import, distribution, sale and use in the country. Further, it was noted that the process of pesticide registration allows the PTCCB to examine the toxicity characteristic of pesticide products to human health and the environment which ultimately allows for more informed decision-making regarding the import, distribution, sale and use of pesticides in Guyana.“The PTCCB has spent years confiscating and disposing of these illegal “Chinese mosquito coils” through numerous enforcement exercises. The PTCCB has been and continues to raise awareness on the illegality and possible risks to human health and environment,” the Ministry stated.It was on the same note that the Agriculture Ministry enlightened that during the registration submission for the mosquito coil, it was found that it was Class 1A carcinogen, meaning that the product is a known cause of cancer in humans.“The product also has potential to cause germ cell mutation in humans. It is also classified as a highly hazardous pesticide (HHP) and poses significant risk to human health and the environment. The human health risk to exposure to Zenden Mosquito Coil is high. Additionally, the registration data submitted had numerous other areas of non-compliances,” the statement noted.Cognisant that mosquito coil is a well-known repellent, the Ministry informed that after a coil is burned, the insecticides evaporate with the smoke which prevents the insect pest from entering the room. However, exposure to the smoke from coils can pose acute and chronic health risks, the statement said.“The PTCCB began confiscating illegal mosquito coils in 2008 and to date has confiscated 4435.08kg (4.4 tonnes) of these products; approximately, 778.80kg of those confiscated was Zenden Mosquito Coil,” the Ministry informed.It added that the Pesticides Board will continue conducting activities geared at exposing importers, distributors and retailers of the illegal mosquito coils, in keeping with its mandate to eliminate illegal pesticides, while reducing the availability of the unwanted products.The registered and legal brands of pesticides recommended by the PTCCB are Fish, Protox, Baygon, Raid, Vape and BOP.According to the Ministry, illegally imported Chinese mosquito coils have been an area of focus for the Board for quite a while. Nonetheless smugglers of such products have spared no effort to register the products which are suspected to be dangerous to human health and the environment.