Patient's question:
Dong Ren, these days there are many mosquitoes. I'm 13 weeks pregnant. Can I use mosquito coils? Will using mosquito coils affect the baby? I'm from Guangdong. These days there are many mosquitoes. I'm 13 weeks pregnant. Can I use mosquito coils? Will using mosquito coils affect the baby? In...Doctor's answer:
Mosquito coils or mosquito liquid both contain trace amounts of anesthetics or toxins to anesthetize or kill mosquitoes. Due to the small dosage, they pose no harm to humans. However, they do have minimal risks. Pregnant women should avoid contact with such chemical products, as their bodies are relatively weaker. Even traditional Chinese mosquito coils, if inhaled excessively, can still have adverse effects on the fetus. If certain mosquito coils contain fragrant substances like musk, pregnant women should be even more cautious to avoid them. The active ingredients in mosquito coils are generally consistent, such as in listening-style sprays, liquid oils, and smoked sheets. Their active ingredients mainly consist of a chemical compound called pyrethroids, in addition to many solvents like chloroform, benzene, and ether. These chemical components can be metabolized through the digestive and respiratory systems and have certain toxicity. If exposed to them excessively for a long time, they may have carcinogenic and teratogenic effects.