Have you ever wondered what really goes into the chemical repellents available on the market nowadays and other products used to keep the pesky creatures at bay? Well, I recently read and eye-opening article and decided to share the information with you. So here are some of the most important facts you should take into consideration when searching the store shelves for the best and safest product :
Bug Sprays:
The common insect repellents contain the chemical DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide), which isn’t biodegradable. This suggests that it may end up in our water supplies. Moreover, there is a great amount of controversy surrounding the chemical. Organizations, such as CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics claim that DEET is safe when used properly. However, others have found that it can slow motor skills and damage central nervous system functions, among other things. Most of these problems were found in people using insect repellents with DEET on regular basis (once a day for five days or longer) and spanned from mild skin irritation and headaches to such serious health issues as restlessness, seizures, loss of consciousness and even death.
Chemically Treated Clothes:
A number of manufacturers began producing outdoor clothes treated with a chemical permethrin (a synthetic form of pyrethrin found in chrysanthemums) to ward off mosquitoes, ticks and other biting insects. Military research has shown, however, that it can be absorbed through the skin, since it comes out of the clothes when you sweat. Permethrin can cause asthma, nausea, headaches and is thought to be an endocrine disrupter. Moreover, it comes out in the wash, thus getting into the water systems.
Municipal Sprays:
Local pest control agencies or health departments in the areas with huge population of mosquitoes, ticks and other biting insects usually deal with the problem by spraying the neighborhoods. Most frequently used chemicals in such sprays are called organophosphates (Ops), the most common of which are malathion and naled. While the former is considered less toxic, they are both known to cause skin irritation and a prolonged exposure can trigger neurological problems. Moreover, these chemicals are highly toxic to bees.
Another method of mosquito control involving the use of ‘larvacides’ (chemical put in the water in order to prevent breeding) is somewhat questionable. Some of these ’larvacides’ are made with bacteria that kill insects when ingested (which is most likely the greenest way to go), however others use chemicals, for example methoprene. Although not toxic to humans, it causes deformities in some marine species and even remains in the fatty tissue of some types of edible fish.
