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I have contacted the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and their toxicity dept to get some answers about the batteries but my contact cannot get an answer back until 22 June. I will also see what is possible from the usual TSS sources.

Regarding the diesel/oil on the water surface of water storage tanks, no it is not a good idea for drinking water. It would deter the mosquito from laying eggs in the water and suffocate the larvae. The preferred non toxic methods would be either to screen in the inlet of the water container or to put a 20mm layer of polystyrene beads (preferably 2mm dia) on the water surface which would act in the same way as the oil. This thickness of beads should last 4 years or more.

Polystyrene beads can be taken from broken up packaging or bought from manufacturers. They can be bought unexpanded - easier to transport and expanded by adding boiling water to them. This should only be part of a larger malaria/mosquito control programme which could include draining standing water, insecticides and bed nets and treatment of people (see Cairncross and Feachem: Environmental Health Engineering in the Tropics 2nd edn 1993 pp220 - 219

Toby Gould

I have contacted the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and their toxicity dept to get some answers about the batteries but my contact cannot get an answer back until 22 June. immediately. I will also see what is possible from the usual TSS sources.

Regarding the diesel/oil on the water surface of water storage tanks, no it is not a good idea for drinking water. It water although it would deter the mosquito from laying eggs in the water and suffocate the larvae. The preferred non toxic methods would be either to screen in the inlet of the water container or to put a 20mm layer of polystyrene beads (preferably 2mm dia) on the water surface which would act in the same way as the oil. This thickness of beads should last 4 years or more.

Polystyrene beads can be taken from broken up packaging or bought from manufacturers. They can be bought unexpanded - easier to transport and expanded by adding boiling water to them. This should only be part of a larger malaria/mosquito control programme which could include draining standing water, insecticides and bed nets and treatment of people (see Cairncross and Feachem: Environmental Health Engineering in the Tropics 2nd edn 1993 pp220 - 219

Toby Gould