The Unsustainability of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets. 2021

Ellen M Santos, and Tatyana M Curtis
Department of Applied Health, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois.

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are highly effective tools for malaria prevention, and it is clear bed nets are necessary. However, given the environmental concerns of the production, distribution, and disposal of LLINs, the malaria prevention community should look to design sturdier nets that last longer and are made of more sustainable materials to reduce harmful environmental impacts in a time when addressing climate change is urgent. We discuss concerns related to plastic pollution and the environmental health of LLINs in their current form, while recognizing the absolute importance of bed nets for malaria prevention. We call for conversation and innovation among all those involved in malaria prevention to address the unsustainability of LLINs and to maximize the resources available for malaria prevention in a climate of competing global health priorities.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007306 Insecticides Pesticides designed to control insects that are harmful to man. The insects may be directly harmful, as those acting as disease vectors, or indirectly harmful, as destroyers of crops, food products, or textile fabrics. Insecticide
D004787 Environmental Pollution Contamination of the air, bodies of water, or land with substances that are harmful to human health and the environment. Pollution, Environmental,Soil Pollution,Pollution, Soil
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D057148 Insecticide-Treated Bednets Lightweight meshwork fabric made of cotton, silk, polyester, nylon (polyamides), or other material impregnated with insecticide, having openings too small to allow entry of mosquitoes or other insects, thereby offering protection against insect bite and insect-borne diseases. Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets,Treated Mosquito Net,Bed Net, Insecticide-Treated,Bed Nets, Insecticide-Treated,Bednet, Insecticide-Treated,Bednets, Insecticide-Treated,Insecticide Treated Bed Nets,Insecticide Treated Bednets,Insecticide-Treated Bed Net,Insecticide-Treated Bednet,Mosquito Net, Treated,Mosquito Nets, Treated,Net, Insecticide-Treated Bed,Net, Treated Mosquito,Nets, Insecticide-Treated Bed,Nets, Treated Mosquito,Treated Mosquito Nets
D059027 Recycling The extraction and recovery of usable or valuable material from scrap or other discarded materials. (from McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed.)
D062611 Solid Waste Garbage, refuse, or sludge, or other discarded materials from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, and air pollution control facility that include solid, semi-solid, or contained material. It does not include materials dissolved in domestic sewage, irrigation return flows, or industrial discharges. Solid Wastes,Waste, Solid,Wastes, Solid

Related Publications

Ellen M Santos, and Tatyana M Curtis
October 2005, Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH,
Ellen M Santos, and Tatyana M Curtis
March 2022, Lancet (London, England),
Ellen M Santos, and Tatyana M Curtis
March 2023, Malaria journal,
Ellen M Santos, and Tatyana M Curtis
May 2021, Malaria journal,
Ellen M Santos, and Tatyana M Curtis
July 2021, Trends in parasitology,
Ellen M Santos, and Tatyana M Curtis
December 2021, Malaria journal,
Ellen M Santos, and Tatyana M Curtis
November 2004, Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
Ellen M Santos, and Tatyana M Curtis
December 2015, The Indian journal of medical research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!