Effects of weathering on fabrics treated with permethrin for protection against mosquitoes.

Permethrin-impregnated and untreated fabrics were evaluated for their toxic and repellent effects against Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti after both types of fabrics were subjected to accelerated weathering for 9 weeks, under a simulated wet/tropical environment. The toxic (knockdown) effect of permethrin-impregnated fabrics against both species of mosquitoes diminished rapidly after 1 week compared to the repellent effect. After 6 weeks of weathering, the remaining low amounts of permethrin provided fair protection from mosquito bites; however, no knockdown was observed at those levels. Permethrin-treated fabric was effective in providing protection from mosquito bites and appears to be a means of attenuating both the nuisance effects and, possibly, disease transmission by mosquitoes.