Deet Finally Exposed as Neurotoxic

[ensho]

http://www.naturalnews.com/029136_deet_toxic.html


New research shows that the insect-repelling chemical deet actually functions in the same way as deadly nerve gases and dangerous pesticides, by attacking the nervous systems of both insects and mammals.

"These findings question the safety of deet, particularly in combination with other chemicals," said researcher Vincent Corbel of Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement in Montpellier.
The chemical known as deet (for N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is found in nearly every commonly used mosquito repellent in the world, and eight billion doses have been applied since its introduction to the consumer market in 1957. The chemical was originally developed as an insect repellent by the U.S. Army in 1946, following experience with jungle warfare in World War II.

-snip-

Previous studies have implicated deet in causing seizures in children, but the current study is the first to uncover how the chemical acts directly on the nervous system.

The researchers also found that the effects of deet were enhanced when it was used in combination with organophosphates or carbamates, as in mixed repellent-insecticide products.

-snip-

The researchers in the new study suggested that pregnant women and children under the age of six avoid using deet-containing mosquito repellents. Abou-Donia went farther, calling for such products to carry warning labels about deet's potential to cause neurological harm.
-snip-
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[FirstLight]

1. ...as if we didn;t already know this...

The EPA has a study "planned for 2012" what a bunch of bullshit

[Warpy]

2. In some climates, it's one of those risk versus benefit things

Anywhere yellow fever, dengue and malaria are endemic, the risk from DEET is probably an acceptable one.

In the developed world, young kids and pregnant women should probably stay indoors from late afternoon until mid morning to avoid mosquitoes when they're most active.

I used to wear cords soaked in a combination of pennyroyal and citronella in wax back in my Ms. Natural hippie dippie days. They kept everybody away, including insects. Phew.

[mzmolly]

22. There are alternatives to deet in any climate.

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/a/aa050503a.htm


Here's an interesting review of one product on Amazon:

As a biochemist, I don't leave my repellents to chance. I insist on reading some of the peer-reviewed scientific studies before switching away from DEET repellents. Some papers on Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, aka OLE or PMD (the synthesized version) caught my attention which made me read further. I looked for information through the Center for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Both sites indicate that OLE is indeed tested and effective, albeit not equivalent (hourly) to >30% DEET. I found that the EPA also evaluates repellent data for safety and hourly effectiveness for brand name products including 30/40% Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus; this can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/mosquito-tick-product.html . Armed with this information, I decided to take OLE on a trip to an island (with swamps) in Belize. We *loved* this product. Although 30% DEET was more powerful as a repellent when we were walking directly next to the swamps, the Repel Lemon Eucalyptus product was plenty effective and so much more pleasant when we were in more usual mosquito (and sand flea) territory back at our base camp. We particularly preferred using it at bedtime in our cabins, since we were not sleeping in a tight, air conditioned room. Lemon Eucalyptus is also a more pleasant product to use on the face, neck, and scalp (avoid the eyes) than DEET. Before the end of our trip, we had finished the Repel Lemon Eucalyptus oil and wished we had brought more. I will take *many* bottles of REPEL 30/40% Lemon Eucalyptus oil and also some DEET on my trip to Madagascar next month. If you decide to purchase OLE, make sure you are NOT buying lemongrass oil or essential oils of lemon eucalyptus, as these are mixtures of oils as they come straight from the plant, and the percentage of OLE (PMD) may not be high enough to be effective. I highly recommend the http://www.amazon.com/Repel-HG-406T-Eucalyptus-4-Ounce-Repellent/dp/B001DRJE1K/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">REPEL product.

When my child was young, we used to buy an oil based product that worked better than any version of off I've encountered. I've not been able to find the product of late, but plan to try the REPEL or something similar.

[Robb]

3. In insects.

...Rather the idea.

[Botany]

4. DEET works ..... be someplace w/ thousands of black flies and mosquitos ..

.... and not use it ..... but use it very sparingly.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Ticks as well. Going through our second round of Lyme in our kids, and I feel guilty because

I haven't been bathing them in the heavy duty bug dope to keep them off. :(

[Botany]

9. I work in and around prairies and chiggers are a real problem .....

..... you bet I spray my jeans and shoes w/ a bug spray that has DEET.



The post below has lots of good info ..... treat the clothes and spot treat
the neck, hands, and face.




really good stuff ..... use very little.

[sui generis]

6. well, that would be because DEET is a neurotoxin

this is olds, not news, but DEET is effective. Also effective: wear loose long sleeves and loose slacks if you're going to be around skeeters. Spray your clothes instead of your skin and just use a mild repellent lotion for exposed face/hands/neck instead.

Just the same, nearly all insecticides that are effective are effective specifically BECAUSE they are neurotoxins. You can apply mosquito repellants to your clothing (most of them will discolor your clothes though), or avoid working or playing when and where mosquitoes are most active. Yards and playgrounds should have premises treated for mosquito larvae and mosquito infestations by a professional (the yard sprays are also neurotoxic and highly concentrated and worse - INHALED).

[mike_c]

8. the grail is a universal phago-deterrent that isn't neurotoxic....

Contact or semi-volatile phago-deterrents work by stimulating inhibitory signals from peripheral chemoreceptors to the central nervous system, blocking the execution of feeding behaviors. That's the primary mode of action for DEET too, if I'm not mistaken-- it's neurotoxicity is just an unfortunate side property.

[mike_c]

7. we've known this for many years-- but it's STILL the best repellent available...

...against biting flies. I used to slather it on at 100% strength. In some habitats you simply cannot work without protection from biting flies, particularly mosquitoes and black flies. I mean, I've been physically driven from marsh islands by vociferous mosquitoes. North American tundra can be uninhabitable without protection.

[blindpig]

10. Ever have any side effects?

I swear, the 70% stuff made me more than a bit 'swimmy-headed', as they say in these parts, quite unpleasant and distracting.

[mike_c]

11. no-- just numb lips if it gets on them....

I've still got a couple of little squeeze bottles of 100% rattling around in the bottom of my truck boxes. Mostly I just use the dilute stuff that comes in aerosol cans though. I don't particularly care for the way it feels on my skin, but it sure beats mosquito and black fly bites!

[pansypoo53219]

12. my grandfather's cousin would

use straight deet as mosquito repellant on his skin. recently died. had Alzheimer's.

[SoCalDem]

20. and look at all the yuppies that slathered the stuff on their babies

...and of course dare I mention the increase in autism & ADD & ADDHD and all the other alphabet-soup conditions that are popping up ?

We are exposed to so much chemical toxicity from so many sources, no one will even be held accountable.. we just all have to live with the consequences..

[Turborama]

13. Neem has been labelled the wonder tree of the humid tropics.

In India there are more than 20 million trees. Many parts of the neem tree have antimicrobial properties. They provide effective ingredients for traditional and modern toothpastes, medicines, cosmetics and insect repellents in South Asia.


Modern uses
The use of neem as a pesticide to kill or repel insects was first investigated in detail in the 1920s. Later, in the 1960s, chemists in Britain isolated one of the active compounds in neem seeds. This compound is called azadirachtin. It stops insects from feeding and also prevents them from growing properly and laying eggs.

Products containing extracts from the seeds have been developed for sale as commercial insecticides and are available in some parts of the world but are not yet officially sold in Britain. Neem-based insecticides have been shown to be effective against over 200 different types of insects including head lice, fleas, locusts and mosquitoes.

More details: http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/neem_landing.html

http://www.discoverneem.com/

Just sayin'...

[JCMach1]

16. I am hyperallergic to neem...

give me deet any day...

[femrap]

14. since

my body oxidizes faster than most, mosquitoes love me. But I've always felt something was wrong with Deet so I just stayed inside. And now with West Nile in our area, I'm grateful for a screened in porch and a yellow lite bulb.

Any home remedies for keeping mosquitoes off? Lemon juice?

[Turborama]

15. Good quality citronella essential oil mixed with a carrier oil, like olive or baby oil

Another option is neem oil, if you can get hold of it.

I've been looking around for natural alternatives myself, as I live in the tropics, and have found these guys who make a repellent with citronella and neem oil: http://www.theneempeople.com/insectrepellent.htm

[femrap]

17. I knew there was a

smart DUer out there who could guide me in the right direction. Thanks!

[SoCalDem]

21. One of the best insect "repellants" is the absence of scent

I grew up in Panama..in the pre-A/C era..and we had NO glass in any window..only metal louvers & chickenwire-y type heavy screen material. we LIVED with bugs & critters..

Frequent showers & no perfumes or scented anything was the secret to less bites:)

It was not totally effective since the mosquitoes there could carry off a small child (slight exaggeration), but we also learned the times of day to stay indoors..

and we were in the DDT era (foggers came twice a day).. we also lived with DDT grease on everything we owned and probably ate :scared:..but enough critters survived (thrived?) and were always around.

[arikara]

18. Take regular vitamin B complex

it emits a smell out of your pores that bugs don't like. They don't like the smell of tea tree oil or neem either. The bonus with tea tree oil is that it takes the itch out of the bites nearly instantly. I use the essential oil straight up on all bites.

[femrap]

19. Thanks....

I already take a b-complex daily. I'll try the neem and tea tree oil. Another DUer mentioned citronella oil.

Thanks.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

23. A touch of chile powder, and a carrier oil.

Supossedly regular red ground up chile powder works best. The more finely it is ground up the better. Nothing too exotic but I don't see why a very hot/spicy pepper wouldn't do the trick. The acidity in the peppers prevents them from wanting to bite - it won't ward them off like deet or citronella but they won't bite, which is the goal I suppose.

Put a little bit in a light carrier oil like baby oil or lotion something. The oil/lotion is only there as a carrier so it doesn't really matter. I've never used "lotion" for this so if you decide to use a lotion or cream you'll probably have to increase the powder because alot of lotions have fragrances and other ingredients that might work against thte powder.

Avoid your eyes with this, obviously.

[femrap]

24. Sounds yummy!

Thanks.

[femmedem]

25. Catnip essential oil is more effective than DEET.

Here's an article about it:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm

And you can buy catnip eo or--in the essential oil blends section--a mosquito-repelling blend of essential oils--here:
www.essentialoils.org

Never use undiluted essential oils directly on your skin. When I make up my own insect-repelling blend (including catnip, lemongrass, cedar, lavender, geranium and patchouli) I use 35 drops of essential oil diluted in 2 ounces of carrier oil.

[Odin2005]

26. Aw SHIT! I use that a lot because I HATE biting and stining insects.