Human essence may effectively ward off mosquitos
Repellent
Kaushal Toprani
Issue date: 1/28/05 Section: Sci-Tech
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A new solution to the pesky problem may come from the human body. It has always been know that mosquitoes are attracted to some people more than others. It was assumed that people who were avoided by mosquitoes just lacked the attractive chemicals. Scientists are now finding that the opposite maybe true. People who attract mosquitoes may lack the chemicals that naturally repel mosquitoes.
In an experiment, James Logan and other scientists at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire had volunteers lay down naked in a foil bag to isolate their scent. This scented air was drawn up to live yellow fever mosquitoes in a Y-shaped tube. Through one branch of the Y flowed normal air and through the other flowed the scented air. It was found that most of the mosquitoes moved to the branch with the unscented air, being repelled by the scented air.
Scientists have found 11 compounds that could be responsible for the mosquito's behavior. Some of the compounds probably were acting as repellants, while the others masked the mosquito attracting smells. The ratio of the different compounds probably plays a large part in its effectiveness as well. The scientists have not released names of the compounds patent and licensing reasons.
If a commercially produced repellent can be created, the possibilities are endless. First of all, the repellent would be undetectable to the human nose. Also, it would safer and more effective, as it would be based off of natural human compounds. Some hope to create a product that could be sprayed on thread that would be sewn into clothes. The biggest impact could come in Africa, were malaria kills 900,000 a year.
In an experiment, James Logan and other scientists at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire had volunteers lay down naked in a foil bag to isolate their scent. This scented air was drawn up to live yellow fever mosquitoes in a Y-shaped tube. Through one branch of the Y flowed normal air and through the other flowed the scented air. It was found that most of the mosquitoes moved to the branch with the unscented air, being repelled by the scented air.
Scientists have found 11 compounds that could be responsible for the mosquito's behavior. Some of the compounds probably were acting as repellants, while the others masked the mosquito attracting smells. The ratio of the different compounds probably plays a large part in its effectiveness as well. The scientists have not released names of the compounds patent and licensing reasons.
If a commercially produced repellent can be created, the possibilities are endless. First of all, the repellent would be undetectable to the human nose. Also, it would safer and more effective, as it would be based off of natural human compounds. Some hope to create a product that could be sprayed on thread that would be sewn into clothes. The biggest impact could come in Africa, were malaria kills 900,000 a year.
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