Ultrastructural changes of tracheal epithelium and alveolar macrophages of rats exposed to mosquito coil smoke.

The volatile organic compounds of mosquito coil smoke were analysed by a combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. 67 volatile organic compounds were detected and 46, including allethrin, phenol, benzene, toluene, xylene, etc. could be identified. Allethrin, a common name for (+/-)-3-allyl-2-methyl-4-oxocyclopent-2-enyl (+/-)-cis,trans-chrysanthemate, is a synthetic pyrethroid, which is used as an insecticide or repellent in subtropical countries. The vapors also contain other aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons which are combustion products of other mosquito coil constituents, including wood dust, coconut flour and other fillers and dyes. An exposure to the mosquito coil smoke for 60 days (8 h per day, 6 days per week) resulted in a focal deciliation of the tracheal epithelium, metaplasia of epithelial cells, and morphological alterations of the alveolar macrophages of exposed rats.