Effectiveness of Lemon and Orange Peel as Insect Repellent

There are many plants that can be used for making an insect repellant that is highly branded. The researcher wanted to make lemon and orange peel as an insect repellant main ingredient because we can also get them the fruit in our own tree or backyard and get only the peel.

The researcher chose lemon and orange peel because it is also good for our body and skin. The lemon peel contains Vitamin C and citric acid which are good for our skin. While an orange peel also contains Vitamin C.

The peels can ward off mosquitoes. It’s said that mosquitoes and gnats are totally repulsed by either scent. The essential oils that can be extracted from lemon and orange peel are the one that makes the mosquitoes fly away.

Lemon and orange is basically known as a fruit that we can eat. We can also make other product with its citric acid and their peel in whitening skin and an insect repellant.

An insect repellent is a substance applied to skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourages insects (and arthropods in general) from landing or climbing on that surface. Effective insect repellents can protect you from serious mosquito- and tick-borne diseases. In the United States, mosquitoes can transmit diseases like St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus. Ticks can transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Ehrlichiosis.[1]

I. Background of the study

Today, lemon and orange are made not only for the fruit that it produces. The peel also can be useful and healthy for our body. It can also give some vitamins that our body need. It can also be useful in body whitening.

Insect repellent is very common for making mosquitoes fly away. It can also help prevent and control the outbreak of insect-borne diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, dengue fever, bubonic plague, and West Nile fever.[2]

II. Statement of the Problem

This study tries to find out the effectiveness of lemon and orange peel as an insect repellent. This study aims to produce a low-priced but high quality insect repellent by using lemon and orange peel as a major ingredient.

This study aims to answer the following questions:
* How can lemon and orange peel ward off mosquitoes without putting chemicals on it? * What are the constituents of lemon and orange peel that is good for skin?

III. Significance of the Project

The researcher site the importance of insect repellent to each individual. Insect repellent is good in making mosquitoes away. Lemon and orange peel is very rich in Vitamin C that is good for our skin. This is also worth-making because it the ingredients that the researcher used are both nutritious and good for our skin. This product of the researcher can be used not only for adults but also for children. This product is appropriate for all types of skin. And it is cheaper than to a product sold in the department store.

IV. Delimitation and Limitation of the Project
The researcher was also benefit in making the repellant that is made of orange and lemon peel. The time consume is 10-12 hours. The ingredient can be provided at home. The researcher will get the orange and lemon peel from the backyard while some of the materials will be bought from a grocery store. The researcher will test the repellent to any part of skin.

V. Definition of Terms

* Ehrlichiosis – is an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a tick. * Citric acid – is a weak organic acid found in citrus fruits. It is a natural preservative and is also used to add an acidic (sour) taste to foods and soft drinks. * Encephalitis is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain, most often due to infections. * West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes. The condition ranges from mild to severe. * Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a disease brought on by a type of bacteria carried by ticks. * Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread through the bite of the blacklegged tick. CHAPTER II

VI. Review of related literature

According to Mrs. Daniels (2009) researcher in Singapore, mosquitoes do not like the smell of lemons and the lemon scent will also keep away mosquitoes. Make a nice glass of fresh lemonade with a fresh lemon and then take the left over lemon peel and rub it onto your skin. The smell of the lemon will keep away the mosquitoes.

Lemon and oranges are also known to keep the gnats away. Gnats are those tiny bugs that buzz around your head when you are trying to enjoy the great outdoors. Keep them away with some lemon or orange peels just like the mosquitoes. Eat the orange and they rub the peel of the orange on your skin. Or make lemon aid and rub the lemon peel on your skin to keep the mosquitoes away.

Using orange or lemons to keep the gnats and mosquitoes away from you when you are outside is a natural way to keep the bugs away. You don’t have to spend money on any expensive mosquito or gnat repellent and you can eat the fruit before you use the peels. It is economical to use the lemon or orange peels as mosquito and gnat repellent and it won’t hurt you or your children since lemons or orange peels are all natural.

END NOTES

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_repellent
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_repellent

END NOTE

[1] http://voices.yahoo.com/natural-mosquito-repellent-orange-lemon-peels-3349596.html?cat=5