Illegal mosquito repellent agarbattis used in Indian homes may be posing a greater health threat than mosquito-borne diseases themselves, according to a new public health study released by the Home Insect Control Association (HICA) ahead of National Dengue Day on May 16.
The study, commissioned by HICA and conducted by market research firm Kantar, found that while 95% of surveyed households did not report mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue or malaria in the past year, 70% of doctors classified illegal mosquito agarbattis containing unapproved chemicals as a “major respiratory hazard”. Further, 67% of doctors compared the health risks posed by these products to cigarette smoke.
The survey was conducted across 12 cities among 1,264 households and 405 doctors, including pulmonologists, paediatricians, general physicians, and gynaecologists.
According to the findings, India’s mosquito repellent agarbatti market is valued at around ₹2,000 crore, with nearly 85% dominated by illegal or unregulated products lacking mandatory Central Insecticides Registration (CIR) approval and ingredient disclosures.
Several products sold under names such as Comfort, Sleepwell, Relax, Sun-Relax, Subhanithra, Hunting Tiger, High Voltage, Happy Night, Dengue Killer and Hi-Power were identified as commonly available despite lacking proper regulatory approvals.
The study found that 59% of households use such products, with nearly half using them daily for over three years.
Jayant Deshpande, Secretary & Director of the Home Insect Control Association (HICA), said, “A huge share of mosquito agarbattis sold at local stores and chemist outlets is untested, illegal, and lacks the mandatory CIR registration number. Consumers should look for products that clearly display the CIR registration number and avoid those with vague claims or missing regulatory disclosures.”
The survey also highlighted growing medical concerns linked to prolonged exposure. Around 84% of doctors surveyed associated regular use of illegal mosquito agarbattis with rising household healthcare costs.
The report further revealed a significant awareness gap among consumers, with many assuming products sold at chemists or labelled herbal are automatically safe.