Does your insect repellant work?

[agesilaus]

Here's an article on what works and what doesn't:

Text

As expected DEET works and most "natural products" don't. There are a couple of newer synthetics that also work. And Lemon Eucalyptus oil is the one natural product that may be effective, but don't use it on young kids.

DEET has been used billions of times with not one confirmed bad event with the exception of a couple of people that drank it.

BK

[agesilaus]

LOL, but the evidence is against you. That 'natural' product just does not work.

[beemerphile1]

agesilaus wrote:
Ah yes, that natural Titanium Oxide...

I don't get it, why do you insist on arguing? There are safer alternatives to Deet and other toxic chemicals. Is anything perfectly safe? Absolutely not. So what.

My only point of commenting is that there are safer alternatives and everyone should do their research and make an informed decision rather than being Lemmings.

BTW, I use only Organic unrefined Coconut oil. I don't know what that stuff is that you posted about.

[agesilaus]

Ah yes, that natural Titanium Oxide aka Titanium Dioxide:

"Crude titanium dioxide (in the form of rutile or synthetic rutile) is purified via converting to titanium tetrachloride in the chloride process. In this process, the crude ore (containing at least 70% TiO2) is reduced with carbon, oxidized with chlorine to give titanium tetrachloride; i.e., carbothermal chlorination. This titanium tetrachloride is distilled, and re-oxidized in a pure oxygen flame or plasma at 1500–2000 K to give pure titanium dioxide while also regenerating chlorine. Aluminium chloride is often added to the process as a rutile promotor; the product is mostly anatase in its absence. The preferred raw material for the chloride process is natural rutile because of its high titanium dioxide content."

and by the way:

"the researchers found significant cell-type dependent effects on cellular functions such as viability; proliferation; apoptosis, or cell death; and differentiation. The research team concluded that there is a risk factor with micronized titanium dioxide products on impaired skin."

and it's friend that natural Zinc Oxide:

"the indirect or French process, metallic zinc is melted in a graphite crucible and vaporized at temperatures above 907 °C (typically around 1000 °C). Zinc vapor reacts with the oxygen in the air to give ZnO, accompanied by a drop in its temperature and bright luminescence. Zinc oxide particles are transported into a cooling duct and collected in a bag house. This indirect method was popularized by LeClaire (France) in 1844 and therefore is commonly known as the French process. Its product normally consists of agglomerated zinc oxide particles with an average size of 0.1 to a few micrometers. By weight, most of the world's zinc oxide is manufactured via French process."

And that natural Coconut Oil:

"RBD stands for "refined, bleached, and deodorized." RBD oil is usually made from copra (dried coconut kernel).
The dried copra is placed in a hydraulic press with added heat and the oil is extracted. This yields up practically all the oil present, amounting to more than 60% of the dry weight of the coconut.
This "crude" coconut oil is not suitable for consumption because it contains contaminants and must be refined with further heating and filtering.
Another method for extraction of a "high-quality" coconut oil involves the enzymatic action of alpha-amylase, polygalacturonases, and proteases on diluted coconut paste.
Unlike virgin coconut oil, refined coconut oil has no coconut taste or aroma. RBD oil is used for home cooking, commercial food processing, and cosmetic, industrial, and pharmaceutical purposes."

Yes all those natural products are so good for you.

[BCSnob]

wintersun wrote:
DEET disolves plastics for starters

You should say it can dissolve SOME plastics but not all; otherwise DEET would not be sold in plastic bottles.

Vegetable oil will attack some plastics and so will citric acid in orange juice.

[nitrohorse]

wintersun wrote:
DEET disolves plastics for starters and it is not safe for continuous use against the skin. The EPA has been run by industry since the days of Ronald Reagan and Rumsfelds backroom deal for Searle and aspartame.

What the US military uses overseas is permethrin which is used in a water solution and then used to saturate clothing. One treatment lasts for 50 washings. This takes care of ticks, fleas, chigger, sand fleas, and mosquitos.

For the areas not covered with clothing the use of picardin in a 20% solution works very well. Unfortunately it is often sold in 5% concentrations and doe not work nearly as well as should be expected. The lower concentration solutions do not sell for less than the higher concentration solutions. Same applies to permethrin which I buy in 1 quart bottles with a 37% solution and dilute and apply with a hand sprayer. Cost about 5 cents per clothing item treated.

Why anyone would repeat information that is old and provides no value to readers is hard to understand. With access to the internet pertinent information is not all that difficult to find - including the US military's own guidelines and field instruction manuals for insect repellents. US soldiers have been at risk for sand fleas and an eye disease that they carry - better than the exposure they are getting to radioactive ammunition debris our bombs and rockets have left behind for current and future generations, but still a problem and permethrin is being used to mitigate the insect risk.

Our US military also said that Agent Orange was safe to use in Vietnam.

[rockhillmanor]

Eurocamper wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
Don't want Lyme disease or West Nile? Take a trip to a local organic pet store. You will find authentic natural products that actually repel unwanted bugs and insects using only 100% true essential oils and NOTHING more.:C

Obviously, if someone is inclined to take their medical advice of the guy that sells them dog food over the advice of the FDA there is nothing I can say that will change their mind.

I don't take 'advice' from anyone without research. I seek out products that are safe where they can be purchased is incidental.

And if you read my posts I DO read the ACTUAL 'TESTING' REPORTS from FDA reports ad naseum. Not just the label that ends of on the product.

[doxiemom11]

Maybe the skin so soft works on some people and not others because of their particular body chemistry. Some swear by it, it has never worked for me.

[Eurocamper]

Permethrin seems to have more drawbacks than DEET.

It is listed as a "restricted use" substance by the EPA due to its high toxicity to aquatic organisms. Excessive exposure can cause nausea, headache, muscle weakness and seizures. It is classified as a likely human carcinogen and high doses have been shown to have tangible neurotoxic effects on mammals and birds, including human beings. Link

Picardin, on the other hand, sounds very promising. Side effects sound minimal. As it's only been approved for use in the United States since 2005, I think it would be premature to claim it's any safer for long term use than DEET, which has been in use since 1946.

I think I will give picardin a try.

[wintersun]

DEET disolves plastics for starters and it is not safe for continuous use against the skin. The EPA has been run by industry since the days of Ronald Reagan and Rumsfelds backroom deal for Searle and aspartame.

What the US military uses overseas is permethrin which is used in a water solution and then used to saturate clothing. One treatment lasts for 50 washings. This takes care of ticks, fleas, chigger, sand fleas, and mosquitos.

For the areas not covered with clothing the use of picardin in a 20% solution works very well. Unfortunately it is often sold in 5% concentrations and doe not work nearly as well as should be expected. The lower concentration solutions do not sell for less than the higher concentration solutions. Same applies to permethrin which I buy in 1 quart bottles with a 37% solution and dilute and apply with a hand sprayer. Cost about 5 cents per clothing item treated.

Why anyone would repeat information that is old and provides no value to readers is hard to understand. With access to the internet pertinent information is not all that difficult to find - including the US military's own guidelines and field instruction manuals for insect repellents. US soldiers have been at risk for sand fleas and an eye disease that they carry - better than the exposure they are getting to radioactive ammunition debris our bombs and rockets have left behind for current and future generations, but still a problem and permethrin is being used to mitigate the insect risk.

[beemerphile1]

agesilaus wrote:


Do you plan to drink any of those skin cremes that people put on their skin? How about sun block, do you apply that to your radicchio sandwich? Do you eat eye liner, lipstick or hand sanitizer? How about shampoo or rinse, body soap? The statement is just plain wrong.

BK

I use coconut oil for skin cream, I also cook with it.

When in the sun I often wear long sleeves and a broad brim hat. Occasionally I use a sunscreen which contains titanium and zinc oxide (natural minerals), sunflower, coconut, and jojoba oils, and yes, you could eat it with no ill effects.

I don't use hand sanitizer because it is poison and have never had need of makeup although there are safer versions of them also.

Dr. Bronner's Castile soap is also safe but tastes terrible, I have on occasion brushed my teeth with it in a pinch.

[nitrohorse]

WoodGlue wrote:
Forget all the DEET and other chemicals.

Get some AVON SKIN SO SOFT to combat mosquitos, etc.

Don't believe me? Google it and see for yourself. We've been using it for over 20+ years!

WoodGlue

I did Google it, and the results are not too impressive.

Skin So Soft Fallacy

[AO_hitech]

WoodGlue wrote:
Try it for yourself before putting it down.

WoodGlue

I have, but only about 10 or so outings (I HATE putting on anything oily). Did not work at all.

[Eurocamper]

rockhillmanor wrote:
Don't want Lyme disease or West Nile? Take a trip to a local organic pet store. You will find authentic natural products that actually repel unwanted bugs and insects using only 100% true essential oils and NOTHING more.:C

Obviously, if someone is inclined to take their medical advice of the guy that sells them dog food over the advice of the FDA there is nothing I can say that will change their mind.

[Trackrig]

Arsenic is also an all natural product. Just because Mother Nature made it instead of man, it doesn't make something safe.

Bill