Vapor Pressure and Surface Tension Measurements of Seven Mosquito Repellents.
Abstract
An investigation was initiated to determine whether or not a relationship exist, first, between the relative vapor pressure of a repellent and its loss from the skin by evaporation and, second, between the surface tension of a mosquito repellent and its intrinsic repellency. The relative vapor pressure of five of these compounds was measured by a head space sampling gas chromatographic procedure. The surface tension of seven mosquito repellents was measured by a pendant drop or de Nouy method. The median effective dose (ED50) of the seven compounds was determined against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. A comparison was made between repellent ED50 values and the more difficult to measure minimum effective evaporation rate (MEER) or intrinsic repellency of 4 of the compounds. Repellent ED50 increased as MEER increased which supports the concept that ED50 is a measure of intrinsic repellency. A comparison was made between previously reported values for repellent evaporative loss from skin and relative vapor pressure increased. No apparent linear relationship exists between surface tension and ED50 values.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA125443
Entities
People
- June R. Jaeger
- Louis C. Rutledge
- William G. Reifenrath
Organizations
- Letterman Army Hospital