Toxic Free NC Labor Day Weekend Tip: Insect Repellent (and Locopops Fiesta too!)

Tips for keeping the bug bites at bay with minimal toxic spritzing.

August, 31, 2010 , by Billie Karel

So what’s the deal with insect repellents?

Before I answer that, let me mention that Locopops is throwing a 5th Anniversary Party on Labor Day, 9/6 from 4pm to 6pm, and to celebrate they’re donating proceeds from the sale of pops at the Raleigh store on Hillsborough St. to Toxic Free NC. Press release here. So come on over for some pops on Labor Day!

OK, back to the big question: insect repellents. DEET (an abbreviation for a chemical called N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the most common pesticide in personal insect repellents. DEET is pretty darned effective at repelling bugs - it’s also toxic to the human nervous system, and because DEET is applied directly to your skin, your personal exposure to it can be quite high. It can absorb through your skin into your blood stream, and it’s also easy to inadvertently breathe it in, ingest small amounts of it, or get it in your eyes. Medical research has connected DEET with increased risk for some neurological symptoms in people who use it, especially children. For all these reasons, Toxic Free NC recommends a very cautious approach to insect repellents containing DEET.

Some medical sources, including the Centers for Disease Control, believe that the benefits of DEET outweigh the risks, and therefore recommend it for use in people over the age of 2 months old. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using formulations with 30% DEET or less. Rules & regulations are more strict in Canada - in 2002, the Canadian Health Department banned the sale of insect repellents with over 30% DEET outright. They recommended using 10% DEET or less on children, no more than 3 times a day for children 2 - 12, once a day for children 6 months to 2 years, and not at all for those less than 6 months old.

We at Toxic Free NC take the approach that DEET should be used as little as possible, because effective alternatives carry fewer risks, and are readily available. Here are some tips for avoiding bites without DEET, as well as some tips for minimizing health risks if you do use DEET:

DEET Alternatives:

* Cover up. Bugs can’t really bite you through your clothing, so when in doubt your best option is to cover up. Dusk and daybreak are when mosquitoes are on the prowl, so consider throwing on a light long-sleeved shirt and switching to long pants when you’ll be outside at those times.

* Blow them away. For cookouts, outdoor parties and dinners on the patio, one great way to keep mosquitoes and other biting flying insects away is with a big fan. A stiff breeze is always welcome on a summer night, so your guests will thank you!

* Dork socks. Wearing long pants tucked into light-colored socks really helps for moderate tick-risk activities like yard work or hiking, since ticks most often crawl up your legs – yuck. This also helps for mosquitoes, who I find love to bite my ankles. I know it’s hot and dorky looking, and everyone is rolling their eyes at me right now and thinking “do you really expect me to wear long pants and socks in North Carolina in the summer?” My answer: it works really well, so if you’re going outside in an area where you know there’s a lot of bugs, and if the bugs bother you more than dork socks do, then yes!

* Tick Checks. Repellent or no, make a regular practice of “tick checks” when you’ve been out in ticky areas. Once a tick has bitten, it takes at least 6 hours, and in many cases 24 hours or more to transmit disease. That means you have a little time to find and remove them before they do any major harm. Check yourself over for “moving freckles,” as my mom used to call them, using a hand mirror or an assistant for areas you can’t easily see. You may even consider using a magnifying glass, since some tick species are so small – deer ticks are about the size of a sesame seed. Pay special attention to areas of the body with hair, and/or where clothes rest tightly against the skin, because that is where ticks tend stop on their journey up your body: waist, groin, armpits, bra wire and strap areas, nape of the neck and scalp. Don’t forget to check between your toes and in your belly button!

* Herbal Repellents. For everyday activities, such as playing outside and evening cookouts, herbal insect repellents can be quite effective against mosquitoes and ticks, though they need to be reapplied somewhat more often than repellents containing DEET. They work because insects hate the smell, so when the smell fades, it’s time to reapply. Experiment with different herbal insect repellent products on the market, or mix your own (see Toxic Free NC’s recipe!). Keep an eye on the labels for these products as well, since some marketing can be sneaky – read the label carefully and be sure that formula contains only natural oils, and not the pesticides you are trying to avoid. Be mindful also that though herbal oils are natural, they’re strong, so test the herbal repellent first on a small area before general use, especially if you have sensitive skin. Also, know that many herbal products are not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing. Pregnant or nursing mothers should consult with their doctor before choosing any type of insect repellent, even those that are “natural.” No matter what repellent you choose, you should always wash your hands immediately after applying the repellent, and wash it all off as soon as you come inside.

Tips for reducing risks if you are using DEET:

* DEET on Clothes. Try applying DEET minimally to the outside of your clothing, especially shoes and pant legs. You’ll get much of the repellent benefits without absorbing quite so much of the chemical through your skin. Be sure to wash these clothes separately from the rest of your family’s laundry.

* DEET on you - use with caution! The benefits of applying DEET to your skin may outweigh the risks for very high-risk activities. In high-risk cases, you should use a DEET product carefully according to label instructions, and use as little as will get the job done. Do not apply it near food, or while you are eating or smoking. Bathe promptly once the activity is over to get the chemical off your skin, and don’t leave it on overnight. For the full and official list of safety recommendations on using DEET, check out the US EPA’s factsheet.

* Insect repellent products to avoid. Avoid products that combine DEET and sunblock; sunblock needs to be reapplied more often than DEET, so you’ll wind up putting more DEET on yourself than you should. Toxic Free NC also recommends against using clothing treated with insect repellents, and you should definitely never use DEET while wearing insect-repellent clothing. The fabric of these clothes is impregnated with permethrin, a pesticide which has been shown to act synergistically with DEET to raise health risks when the two are combined.

Good luck, and happy Labor Day.