CHAPTER I

The Problem and Its Setting

Introduction

Mosquitoes are a type of vector that carries and transmits infectious diseases

such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, zika, and the like - all of which are considered

deadly and prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas (World Health Organization,

2020).  There aren’t any vaccines to prevent most of these, thus, making mosquitoes

the public’s enemy against vector-induced diseases. According to National Geographic

(n.d.), “Mosquito-borne diseases cause millions of deaths worldwide every year with a

disproportionate effect on children and the elderly in developing countries.”

It has been estimated by The United State Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention that about 700 million people are infected and more than a million die

globally every year because of mosquito-borne diseases. Along with this, a number of

scientists started to become concerned about the significant increase in the rate of

infection of these diseases (Qureshi, 2018). In 2019, it has been reported by the World

Health Organization (WHO) that the cases of malaria have been declining worldwide,

however, dengue cases still remain widespread throughout the world. The Pan

American Health Organization recorded at least 2.7 million cases of mosquito-related

illnesses wherein there were about 1000 deaths and 22 000 cases classified as severe

dengue and was then considered the highest cases of dengue in history (WHO, 2019). 
 Meanwhile, in Asia, it has been declared that the Philippines has undergone an

epidemic outbreak and has the most cases of dengue in the South-Eastern portion of

the continent, with over 600 deaths and 146,062 cases in total (Paris, 2019). Particularly

in Bicol Region, Sorsogon has taken countermeasures in reducing and controlling the

number of people affected by the dengue surge (Caballero, 2019). Since there aren’t

vaccines for preventing such illnesses, people then rely on and use insect repellents,

mosquito coils, and incenses, in avoiding mosquito bites and their threats (Abouelella,

et.al.,2019).

The use of mosquito repellents in the form of incenses and coils are considered

developed customs of numerous places from all over the world, specifically in Asian,

African, and South American households (Zhu, et.al.,2018). These tools are widely

known for actively eliminating and controlling the presence of the said insect. However,

the common ingredients used in these products contain substances that are detrimental

to both the environment and the people (Bahadur, Chandrashekar, Pai, 2019). Volatile

organic compounds (VOCs) are the harmful ingredients in the products (Lu, et.al.,2020).

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, VOCs are gases that

are released from certain solids and liquids that are usually found as components in

household products. These impose adverse health risks and negative impacts on the

climate (US EPA, 2019). 

In accordance with improving and providing a natural approach in mosquito

repellent incense sticks, this study will make use of Palm Oil and pulverized Calamnsi

peels - plant-based DEET-free and easily found in the City of Sorsogon - as an

alternative incense stick repellent for mosquitoes as both of these materials contain
insecticidal properties suitable for the manufacture of natural repellents (Carigaba,

et.al., n.d.).

Palm oil is known for its various uses in different industries (Green Palm, n.d.). It

is a natural oil that is used as a repellency carrier for fighting-off insects and pests.

Besides this, it also contains repellent efficacies, although it is not as active as the

common chemical ingredients in mosquito repellents - DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-

toluamide) (Malar, J., 2011). Therefore, the use of citrus peels shall be employed.

Citrus peels have been introduced as eco-friendly alternative mosquito repellents

and most of them are non-toxic to humans, animals and are safe and friendly to the

environment. These products are good alternatives to synthetic insecticides and can

delay the development of resistance to insect pests (Taylor & Francis Group, 2017).

Statement of the Problem

         The main problem of this study is to derive and determine the efficacy of corn

starch paste infused with Palm oil and pulverized Calamansi peels as Mosquito

repellent incense sticks.

         Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:

1. What are the chemical compositions of the raw materials?

2. What is the level of effectiveness of the product?

3. What are the product’s effects with the varying concentrations of its alternative

levels?
 a. 50%

b. 75%

c. 100%

4. What are the possible recommendations to enhance the product’s effectiveness

level?

Scope and Delimitations

The general intent of this study is to determine the effectiveness of corn starch paste

infused with Palm oil and pulverized Calamansi peels as mosquito repellent incense

sticks. The study is only focused on using Calamansi peels and Palm oil to determine its

effectiveness when used as an ingredient for mosquito repellent incense sticks. Also,

the study yearns to identify how the researchers can develop a product that is better

compared to commercially available repellent incense sticks in terms of cost and

efficiency.

It delimits the involvement of any natural ingredients because the study focuses more

on the ingredient Calamansi peels and palm oil, and the study will be conducted with a

limited amount of financial resources and time framework.

Significance of the Study

The study focuses on the effectiveness of corn starch paste infused with Palm oil and

pulverized Calamansi peels as mosquito repellent incense sticks. The results of the

study will therefore be beneficial for the following:

 Children. Unlike the usual Mosquito repellent incense sticks, which induce

toxicity due to excessive inhalation, the product that will be formulated in the study will

have less harm to children.

Household. The study will help people to repel and kill mosquitoes, avoiding damage to

household textiles.

Environment.  The product in the study will be environmentally friendly as it does not

release harmful substances, and will also avoid the use of harmful substances to repel

and kill mosquitoes.

Producers of Calamansi and Palm Oil. Therefore, if the product is proven to be

effective, it will need the support of these individuals to produce the raw materials that

are needed to create the mosquito repellent incense stick.

Researchers. This study may serve as a reference for other researchers who are

interested in carrying out further studies on the same topic discussed herewith. As well,

other parameters not covered by this study may be a gap worthy of study by future

researchers.
 Notes

1
World Health Organization. (2020). Vector-borne diseases. Retrieved from

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases

2
National Geographic. (n.d). Mosquitoes. Retrieved from

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/group/mosquitoes/

3
Qureshi, A. I. (2018). Chapter 2 - Mosquito-Borne Diseases. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128123652000032

4
World Health Organization. (2019). The "World malaria report 2019" at a glance.

Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/world-malaria-

report-2019

5
World Health Organization. (2019). WHO Region of the Americas records highest

number of dengue cases in history; cases spike in other regions. Retrieved from

https://www.who.int/news/item/21-11-2019-who-region-of-the-americas-records-highest-

number-of-dengue-cases-in-history-cases-spike-in-other-regions

6
Paris, J. (2019). PH has most dengue cases in Southeast Asia in 2019. Retrieved from

https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippines-has-most-dengue-cases-southeast-asia-

2019

7
Caballero, D. D. 2019. Sorsogon, Masbate launch drive to check dengue surge.

Retrieved from https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1025496

8
Abouelella, G.A., et. al. 2019. Commercial Mosquito Repellents and Their Safety

Concerns. Retrieved from https://www.intechopen.com/books/malaria/commercial-

mosquito-repellents-and-their-safety-concerns

9
Zhu, S., et.al. 2018. Investigating particles, VOCs, ROS produced from mosquito-

repellent incense emissions and implications in SOA formation and human health.

Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S036013231830461X 

10
Bahadur, A., Chandrashekar, K. S., Pai, V. 2018. Formulation and Development of

Polyherbal mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks. Retrieved from

https://rjptonline.org/HTML_Papers/Research%20Journal%20of%20Pharmacy%20and

%20Technology__PID__2020-13-1-25.html

11
Lu, F., et. Al. 2020. The emission characteristic of VOCs and the toxicity of BTEX

from different mosquito-repellent incenses. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S036013231830461X 

12
Carigaba, et.al., n.d. Larvicidal activity of Citrofortunella microcarpa (calamansi) peel

essential oil against third and early fourth instar Aedes aegypti. Retrieved from

http://www.publiscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Larvicidal-activity-of-

Citrofortunella-microcarpa-peel-EO-against-Aedes-aegypti.pdf#:~:text=microcarpa

%20(calamansi)%20peel%20essential%20oil%20is%20found%20to%20be

%20effective,to%20the%20commercially%20available%20larvicide.
13
Green Palm, n.d. What is palm oil used for? Retrieved from

https://www.greenpalm.org/about-palm-oil/what-is-palm-oil/what-is-palm-oil-used-for

14
United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2019. What are volatile organic

compounds (VOCs)?. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S036013231830461X 

15 
Malar, J. 2011. Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development

and testing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3059459/

16
Taylor & Francis Group. 2017. Citrus fruit peel: Potential alternative to mosquito

control discovered. Retrieved from

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171010200124.htm