"Cultivating Eco-Friendly Environments:

Crafting Homemade Non-Chemical Pest Repellent

for Eco-Conscious Living"

A Capstone Presented to the Faculty

of Dalubhasaang Politekniko ng Lungsod ng Baliwag

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the subject Capstone

Carillo, Jenna Donita

Clores, Johnrae

Cobilla, Dennise Joy

Dionisio, Rafaelle Erin Nichole

Faburada, Sim

Fontillas, Lance Gian

Galvez, Abegail

Guibani, Eduardo Jr.

Manalastas, Ma. Ysabelle

Prado, Hannah Marie

March 2024
 Chapter 1 – Topic and Problem

Topic

The insects can cause problems in some people's daily lives in different ways because
they cause allergies, health risks, and disruptions of daily activities. So, the researchers came up
with the idea of developing a pest-repellent spray made of water, lemon peel, and citronella oil.
The pest-repellent spray has the ability to repel pests such as insects, cockroaches, and other
animals that can damage things in our environment. The spray can grant you a very convenient
experience because it will be effective in avoiding insects whenever you are outside, in your
house, and in school. In addition, it's also very handy due to its small size, so you can bring it
wherever you go. Several studies showed that citronella oil and lemon peel are effective in
fighting off some insects. Recently, there has been an exploration of natural alternatives for
insect repellents, such as essential oils. One of the essential oils studied widely is citronella oil
(Sharma et al, 2019). A 2019 study shows that Citronella is one of the best-known insect
repellents. It suggests citronella helps repel mosquitoes, and it may also be effective against
insects like mites, flies, and more (Tavella, 2019). In addition, lemon peel has plenty of stuff that
can be useful to us, including D-limonene and Vitamin C. The D-limonene component has
insecticidal properties that can be found in lemon peel. D-limonene is one of the most common
terpenes, a compound that shows a significant potential for insect control (Mendoza & Tejada,
2021). These studies prove that the ingredients of our spray are effective for insect control. By
taking advantage of the abilities of citronella oil and lemon peel, we can be safer from the
diseases that those insects may have while also helping the environment by using organic
materials.

Problem Statement

Common household pests include rodents such as bedbugs, houseflies, cockroaches, and
mosquitoes. These insects can cause health problems; they carry potentially life-threatening
viruses, so what can our product do to avoid these kinds of situations? There are many insect
repellents that can be bought on the market; however, they are not organic and contain many
chemicals. A non-chemical insect repellent is an essential item for every home. The product
contains natural components such as lemon peel, water, and citronella oil that have no adverse
effects on our health. This product can prevent pests from entering our houses and also prevent
the harmful effects we can get from the chemicals in other repellents.

Problem Background and Causes

The harm of chemicals in the environment. In the past few years, many pest repellents
have emerged to address the needs of consumers. However, many are concerned about their
environmental impact and potential health effects due to the use of chemicals. There is growing
evidence that insect repellents can trigger harmful interactions in our bodies and in our
environment (Roy et al., 2017). Our environment is becoming the worst version of it every year
passed by. We have to take care of our environment because it also connects to our health as a
person. We can protect our environment by reducing the use of chemicals that harms the land,
water, air, and most importantly ourselves.

The excess use of chemical in the pest-repellents, omnipresence of pest infestations on

earth has led to the formulation of pesticides that we encounter today. Such pesticides are
manufactured with chemicals that are harmful enough to end pests; however, many of them are
also toxic to humans. Additional awareness is required when using these pesticides. Yet because
they are commercially obtainable and there are pest problems in nearly every house, the
dangerous chemicals in pesticides in the air increase. This could possibly lead to illnesses or
contribute to air pollution (Blog-Manager, 2022). This proves that pest repellents that are made
today are full of harmful chemicals that can affect humans’ health. The use of chemicals can be
reduced if we make a way to achieve it. We already know that chemical is dangerous to our
bodies, that is why we need to find a solution to eliminate it.

Our Root Causes are:

 Health and Environment

 Many people nowadays are concerned about the potential effects of chemicals on our
health and the environment. That's why we thought of creating a product without any chemical
additives. We searched for alternatives to the chemicals we use in making our product. It's not
always apparent, but over time, we gradually become dependent on chemicals in various
everyday products like food, hygiene items, pest repellents, etc. Because people nowadays
depend on chemicals, businessmen took advantage of that to establish businesses, such as the
insecticides we use in our environment, the condiments we mix with our foods, the hygiene
items we’re on our skin, and the care products for our pets to eliminate insects residing in their
bodies.

We use cleansing products on our bodies without considering the ingredients. We use our
pet care products to repel fleas without thinking about the chemicals in them. That's why we
created a trustworthy product that can be used widely, with natural ingredients found at home,
aiming to reduce chemical use in the world. The goal is to address the unnoticed environmental
impact of chemicals on our air, oceans, and farms, affecting our food sources.

Pesticides used to kill pests have harmful effects not only on the environment but also on
the health of those harvesting vegetables on large farms in our country. By using non-chemical
products, we can preserve the beauty of our environment and our health, avoiding diseases
caused by daily chemical product use. Over time, we witness changes in our environment, with
vegetables now carrying chemical traces and questions arising about the freshness and chemical
usage in the meat we buy. Our bodies have become accustomed to chemicals, unaware of their
internal effects. Using our product ensures your health and helps avoid unnecessary chemical
use.

 Pest Getting Tougher

Due to the prolonged use of chemicals, insects are gradually developing immunity to the
substances we use to eliminate them. Over time, they evolve and find ways to avoid the
chemicals we use against them. It's essential for us to think of new methods to make our pest
control more effective. We have opted to use natural ingredients that we believe can serve as
effective alternatives against pests in our environment. In our daily life, we cannot confidently
assert the cleanliness of our environment because even though we perceive our surroundings as
clean, insects still find ways to create nests and propagate their species.
 Students can use this product when they're at school, especially now when they can't
confidently claim that their surroundings are exceptionally clean or free from insects that might
affect their health. Whether they admit it or not, they aren't sure about the cleanliness of their
environment while inside the school, which can impact their academic performance.
Additionally, we understand that students have various expenses nowadays, so we've invented a
product to help in their daily lives without requiring a significant amount of money. This way,
they can still allocate resources to their essential needs, especially in their studies, considering
that many students today don't have a source of income. It's better for them to use things readily
available within their homes.

Through our product, we aim to teach students to have a broader mindset and be
resourceful in taking care of their health, especially when they are outside their homes. The
cleanliness and safety of students' surroundings can influence their academic performance, and
our product can contribute to making students comfortable and at ease while inside their school.
And for them to share this knowledge with others, reducing the number of people using
chemicals in our world. To also promote safety without adversely affecting our environment.

 Being More Environmentally Friendly

Chemicals have an impact on the environment, both on land and in the oceans, due to
factories utilizing them in the production of various products. To safeguard our environment, let's
avoid the excessive use of chemicals and strive to maintain the order and beauty of our
surroundings. Let's refrain from using products that contain chemicals harmful to our
environment. By using natural ingredients, we can prevent environmental damage and be clever
in creating things for our benefit, providing protection against insects in our surroundings. We
don't always need to rely on products with chemicals; sometimes, we just need to be practical to
see what's happening in our environment and realize that we are the ones harming the Earth.

The use of natural products can help in our environment— like what we used to create
our product, which can serve as a weapon if we are concerned about the insects in our
surroundings that we "usually" encounter. As time elapses, we sometimes lose sight of
harnessing the potential of natural ingredients found in our environment. This is why the term
"herbal" exists, catering to individuals who wish to avoid products containing synthetic
chemicals. Being more environmentally friendly involves adopting old practices used or done by
ancient people in the world during times when chemicals were not yet prevalent in our country
that can affect our planet, such as reducing use of products that contain chemicals, promoting the
use of natural ingredients or seeking alternatives to the chemicals we mix into products, while
maintaining the order and beauty of our environment.

Research Questions

With concerns rising over the environmental and health risks associated with chemical
pesticides, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly pest management solutions. However,
there are limited options available, and little research has been conducted on the effectiveness of
homemade, non-chemical pest repellents. This study will examine these following questions:

1. How does the use of chemical pest repellents contribute to environmental degradation,
and what are the specific ecological impacts associated with their widespread application?

2. To what extent do traditional pest control methods, particularly those involving

chemical agents, pose health risks to individuals, and what are the potential implications for
human well-being?

3. In what ways do chemical pesticides negatively affect local biodiversity, and what are
the potential consequences for the overall health and resilience of ecosystems?

4. How effective are homemade, non-chemical pest repellents as sustainable alternatives,

and what factors influence their efficacy in comparison to conventional pest control methods?

5. What is the current level of awareness within communities regarding the

environmental impact of various pest control methods, and how can educational initiatives
promote a shift towards eco-conscious living?

6. To what extent are the ingredients required for crafting homemade non-chemical pest
repellents accessible and affordable, and what factors contribute to or hinder their widespread
availability for diverse households?

7. What are the main barriers and challenges faced by individuals and communities in
adopting eco-friendly pest control practices, and how can these obstacles be effectively
addressed to encourage broader acceptance and implementation?
Topic and Problem Conclusion

The researchers came up with the idea of developing a pest-repellent spray made of
water, lemon peel, and citronella oil, a type of essential oil. This organic product can prevent
insect bites, as well as the harmful effects we can get from chemical repellents. Pests can cause
infections and cause serious allergic reactions. The chemical pest repellents on the market can
cause harmful effects such as breathing problems, headaches, skin irritation, and allergies.
Organic pest repellents are eco-friendly and safe for those with sensitivities. The production of
organic pest repellent is helpful to prevent and eliminate the insects that cause serious diseases to
people and also through the production of organic pest repellent it is possible to avoid the use of
chemical pest repellents that have adverse effects on the health and body of people.