...continued
Insect repellents:
Lemon Eucalyptus and other Essential Oils
Many people use essential oils instead of their chemical cousins because they believe that all natural compounds are safer. Consider this: poison ivy, hemlock, strychnine, and cyanide are also "all natural". Just because something is not considered a chemical, don't assume it's safe to use. Many of the essential oils used to repel insects are toxic to some degree and most are highly toxic to cats. For example, lemon eucalyptus oil can cause permanent blindness if it gets in your eyes and peppermint oil is a carcinogen and citronella oil is to bears what catnip is to cats and bears have the best noses in the woods. While the chemical repellents have decades of research and testing which support their safety claims, Essential Oil repellents are not scrutinized nearly as much and some of their claims may be completely unsupported. Combine this with the fact that essential oil repellents are only marginally effective against mosquitoes and black flies, almost useless against ticks, and the effects are only good for about 30-60 minutes. Why not just use something that works.
Picaridin
Picaridin, aka Icaridin, KBR 3023, Bayrepel, IR3535, and KBR was developed by Bayer AG of Germany in the 1980's. Bayer used 3D computer modeling to create a repellent at the molecular level that could block the sensory receptors of malaria carrying mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus as well the Blacklegged tick (Deer tick). The result was a repellent more effective than DEET against the aggressive Asian and African species of mosquitoes as well as stable flies and deer ticks; and as effective, or nearly so, against most other mosquitoes, flies, and ticks.....and Picaridin does this without the adverse side effects of DEET. In numerous laboratory tests, the most serious effects on test animals were to rats that were fed 5,000mg./day of Picaridin. They suffered liver damage. For you or I to get the same equivalent dosage we'd have to drink 15-20 cans of Picaridin a day....Compare that to the fact that as little as 2-4 ounces of DEET will kill a person. Picaridin is practically non-toxic to most mammals including humans, dogs, and cats; and it doesn't dissolve plastics and other synthetics the way DEET does. It's also biodegradable, making it much safer for the environment. Picaridin however, doesn't work the same way DEET does. It forms a defensive barrier on the skin which can take 15-30 minutes to form. Until then it's very ineffective. So give it time.
DEET
N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) was invented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the mid 1940's for use by the Army and it was made available to the public in 1957. For 50 years DEET has been the most effective longest-lasting mosquito and black fly repellant available. Despite it's super-effectiveness DEET has a few drawbacks.
1) DEET dissolves many plastics and other synthetics including: backpacks, clothing, watch crystals, cameras, paint finishes, sealants, as well as many other products.
3) The stuff repels humans almost as well as it repels insects due to it's smell and the greasy feel it leaves on the skin.
2) DEET applied to the skin is absorbed by the body. It is then excreted through perspiration and urination. That's right, you'll pee DEET for up to 24 hours after using it. After you flush and wash off the DEET applied to your clothing and skin it is sent off to a water/sewer treatment plant where the DEET will pass right through because these facilities were not designed to break down DEET and DEET is not biodegradable. For over 50 years DEET has been accumulating in our rivers, lakes and oceans, and recently it has been discovered that even some of our nations municipal water supplies have measurable concentrations of DEET in them. So what risk is there to the environment?
From the 1998 E.P.A. R.E.D. fact sheet:
"...Because DEET is only applied directly to the human body/clothing, cats,
dogs, pet quarters and household/domestic dwellings, it is considered to be an
“indoor residential” use...Ecological risk assessments are not conducted for pesticides with
exclusively indoor use patterns. Application of DEET to the human
body/clothing, cats, dogs, pet quarters, and household/domestic dwellings, is
not likely to adversely affect terrestrial wildlife or aquatic organisms..."
Obviously written by a politician!
4) Finally, it has been demonstrated (proven) that DEET can react with other chemicals/drugs in the body to produce unexpected and even fatal consequences, especially with DEET concentrations greater than 30%. A Canadian medical bulletin stated that DEET may have significantly greater toxicity when combined with ethyl and/or isopropyl alcohols and freon which are common in some DEET products. It has also been shown in laboratory tests that extended use of DEET kills neurons in the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory and concentration. It shouldn't be any surprise that many countries, as well as New York City, have banned repellents with high concentrations of DEET or have banned DEET altogether. Note: The combination of DEET and an experimental drug (PB) used by Gulf War veterans is suspected by some researchers to be the cause of Gulf War Syndrome.
Permethrin
Insect repellents are generally less effective against deer ticks than they are against mosquitoes and black flies and the effects last for a much shorter duration. Another option is Permethrin, an insecticide with repellent properties which is considered safe for humans, dogs, and horses, but it's highly toxic to cats. It can be sprayed on your clothing and it kills ticks on contact and will last through several wash cycles. Ticks generally don't get more than 6-12 inches across a treated fabric, and if they're only on the fabric for a few inches they'll likely die before they can transmit Lyme disease to you, which usually takes at least 24 hours. Permithrin is generally safe to spray on skin, however due to the type of solvents used it will not bond with your skin and evaporates rapidly. Sprayed on your skin it's benefits are only good for about 15-20 minutes. Permithrin treated clothing in conjunction with DEET or Picaridin on your skin will make you virtually immune to Mosquitoes, Black Flies, and Ticks. While permethrin is highly effective on the trail, where it really excels is around the house. I use it in the entryway to combat the bugs that get in when my neighbor leaves the front door propped open at night and it's just Awesome when used strategically against sugar ants.
Both DEET and Picaridin were tested against grass, dandelions, and household plants. Both performed flawlessly. They are effective defoliants.
The information I've posted above is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and seems to represent the general consensus among industry professionals and researchers from various organizations including; The C.D.C., W.H.O., manufacturers, various universities, reviews and tests performed by foreign governments and military's, as well as other sources.
I originally began researching this for myself and therefore took notes but did not keep track of references. I went back later and attempted to find the sources for the above information. If there is something missing, I'm sure someone will let me know.
