THE CHEMISTRY OF REPELLENTS: ACTION OF CITRONELLA IN PREVENTING ARBOVIROSES TRANSMITTED BY AEDES AEGYPTI

Abstract

The study addresses chemical ecology, investigating interactions between organisms and the environment, with an emphasis on citronella-based repellents and their use in combating arboviruses. The project involves research into natural repellents as an alternative to synthetic chemicals to control Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that transmits diseases such as dengue, zika, chikungunya and yellow fever. The objective of the study was to apply an intervention project with EJA students at Colégio Estadual Dom Alano Marie Du Noday in Palmas - Tocantins, aiming to expand students' knowledge about natural repellents, especially citronella oil. Using the active Problem-Based Learning methodology, the students participated in a theoretical class followed by a video demonstrating the extraction of citronella essential oil. Afterwards, the students worked on a crossword game prepared by the researchers, at the end of the activities the students answered a project evaluation questionnaire. The results allow us to infer that the diversity and relevance of the themes were recognized as enriching, although some students expressed learning difficulties, highlighting the importance of an adaptive pedagogical approach. Regarding the applicability of the content in everyday life, students recognized its practical usefulness and relevance, highlighting the need for applicable elements in different contexts. Student assessment was carried out during the teaching-learning process, which revealed a solid understanding of the concepts presented and a positive perception of the methodology used. In summary, the results indicate the success of the approach in stimulating student participation and promoting the construction of knowledge about citronella and its applications.