Mosquito repellent incense (katorisenko)
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These green-coloured coils of special incense are used widely in Japanese
homes during the summer months; they have virtually eliminated the need for
mosquito nets as protection against disease-carrying insect pests. The
active ingredient of the coil is pyrethrum, which is obtained from the
flowers (dried and powdered) of pyrethrum varieties of chrysanthemum,
notably C. coccineum. The plant is native to Japan and it has also been
cultivated widely for use in insecticides. Pyrethrum is non-toxic to humans
and warm-blooded animals but it is toxic to insects and cold-blooded
vertebrates.
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