Little Campers - Just Say No to Bugs!
By Franny M. Wilkins

Whether you're sending your kids to camp or going camping, no doubt you're hoping to find a mosquito repellent that is kind to your skin, effective and free of side effects. I looked into both chemical and natural based repellents and found that there are excellent options in both categories.

Most insect repellents are made from DEET. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against using repellents containing more than 10% DEET on kids under six. DEET is a pesticide and has been associated with a variety of health problems ranging from dizziness to seizures, and children are especially susceptible. Natural repellents use essential oils as their active ingredients and no negative side effects have been reported.

DEET products generally last longer than natural repellents. Independent tests by ABC-TV and Good Housekeeping both showed that the average DEET repellent lasts four to eight hours while naturals need to be reapplied about every two hours. Products with a low percentage of DEET are OFF-Skintastic or Skedaddle. Be sure to double check the label and note the amount of DEET in the product.

If you do not want to expose your family to DEET there are excellent natural choices. The Good Housekeeping Institute gave Buzz Away, an essential oil product, the highest ranking among natural repellents tested. (www.quantumhealth.com; 1-800-448-1448). Researcher James Heal, who also tested Buzz Away at the University of Guelph found that, "the protection provided by Buzz Away is similar to that provided by DEET-based OFF! Skintastic". Especially easy to apply on very young children are Buzz Away's unique towelettes.

Larry Clifford, the Assistant Superintendent at Crowley's Ridge State Park in Arkansas, was concerned about the possible problems that pesticides might pose. "My research presented caution after caution about DEET products," Clifford explained. He decided to compare natural repellents to DEET at his park's annual mosquito calling contest. "Arkansas is the mosquito capital of the world," Clifford said. In one event, contestants put an arm in a box with 500 or so mosquitoes. "We compared Buzz Away with DEET products. When I had my DEET covered arm into the test chamber, I could feel the little wing beats of the mosquitoes, and it was getting quite irritating. When I tried the other arm sprayed with Buzz Away, mosquitoes were buzzing 2 to 3 inches away. It was an obvious difference to me," he said.

Natural repellents can work even in extreme conditions, points out physician and author Marcus Laux of Los Angeles, CA. He's led many camping expeditions to the rain forests of South and Central America to study medicinal properties of indigenous botanicals. "The mosquitoes there are fierce - in the Amazon they're as big as birds - Buzz Away works even under the harshest conditions". Dr. Laux points out that products like Buzz Away must be applied frequently, as much as once every hour or two, in heavily infested areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency states that, if used with caution, DEET repellents will not cause adverse reactions. However, if skin care is important to you, go natural. Buzz Away also comes in a combination sunblock / repellent formula.

The choice is yours, but either way, read the label, do some research, go on the internet and talk to your family physician if you or a family member has allergies.

If you use a DEET repellent, follow these guidelines:

• Choose repellents which contain less than 20 percent DEET.
• Use them sparingly, applying just enough to cover exposed skin and / or clothing. Do not use under clothing., and wash treated clothing before wearing again.
• Avoid putting repellent on children's hands, which invariably wind up in their mouths.
• Never let children apply DEET to their own skin.
• To apply to face, spray on hands first and then rub on face. Do not spray directly onto face.
• Do not apply DEET containing products over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• Do not spray in enclosed areas.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.

View products now - Natural Insect Repellents

The Mosquito Issue<o:p></o:p>

New studies warn against chemical repellents<o:p></o:p>

What to do, what to use<o:p></o:p>

How to stay safe

Solutions

DEET based Repellents Safety Questioned in Two Studies<o:p></o:p>

With the ever spreading dread of West Nile Virus, how to avoid mosquito bites has become an important topic. We’ve surveyed a number of recent newspaper and TV news stories on the subject and find that most reports recommend using insect repellents made from the chemical DEET. While there is no doubt it is very effective, there is, unfortunately, a growing body of evidence that DEET can cause some pretty serious health problems.

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Every year, approximately one-third of the <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION><ST1:PLACE>U.S.</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> population uses insect repellents containing DEET, available in more than 230 products with concentrations up to 100 percent. <o:p></o:p>

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Duke University Pharmacologist Cautions Against DEET<o:p></o:p>

In a recent news release, Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist, Dr. Abou-Donia Ph.D,  reported that the chemical DEET, used in most insect repellents, causes diffuse brain cell death and behavioral changes in rats after frequent and prolonged use. While the chemical's risks to humans are still being intensely debated, Abou-Donia says his 30 years of research on pesticides' brain effects clearly indicate the need for caution among the general public.

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"If used sparingly, infrequently and by itself, DEET may not have negative effects �?the literature here isn't clear," he said. "But frequent and heavy use of DEET, especially in combination with other chemicals or medications, could cause brain deficits in vulnerable populations."

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Children in particular are at risk for subtle brain changes caused by chemicals in the environment, because their skin more readily absorbs them, and chemicals more potently affect their developing nervous systems, said Abou-Donia.

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With heavy exposure to DEET and other insecticides, humans may experience memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors and shortness of breath, said Abou-Donia. Such overt symptoms are not seen immediately after use but may manifest themselves months or years after exposure, making a cause-and-effect relationship difficult to establish.

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"The take home message is to be safe and cautious when using insecticides," said Abou-Donia. "Never use insect repellents on infants, and be wary of using them on children in general. Never combine insecticides with each other or use them with other medications. Even so simple a drug as an antihistamine could interact with DEET to cause toxic side effects. Don't spray your yard for bugs and then take medications. Until we have more data on potential interactions in humans, safe is better than sorry."  (Article from <ST1:PLACE><ST1:PLACENAME>Duke</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE>University</ST1:PLACETYPE> <ST1:PLACENAME>Medical</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE>Center</ST1:PLACETYPE></ST1:PLACE>)<o:p></o:p>

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Mixing DEET and Sunblock Increases Health Risks<o:p></o:p>

A study from <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION><ST1:PLACE>Canada</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>’s <ST1:PLACE><ST1:PLACETYPE>University</ST1:PLACETYPE> of <ST1:PLACENAME>Manitoba</ST1:PLACENAME></ST1:PLACE> warns against using DEET based mosquito repellents with sunblock.<o:p></o:p>

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The study, by professor of pharmacy Xiaochen Gu, found that when a 2.5-per-cent solution of insect-repelling DEET was mixed with oxybenzone, a very common sun-blocking ingredient, the amount of DEET absorbed into the skin went from 9.6 per cent to 30.2 per cent.<o:p></o:p>

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DEET has been known to cause some serious side effects including heart palpitations, disorientation and even seizures. There is evidence that if sunblock and DEET are used together there may be an increased risk for stroke, headache and hypertension.<o:p></o:p>

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"This will certainly cause some safety concerns if both sunscreen and DEET are applied at the same time," said Dr. Gu, "especially for DEET, because we know it can cause some side effects, such as hypotension, disorientation and even seizure."<o:p></o:p>

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Staying Safe:

The following steps will help minimize the mosquito population in your own yard <o:p></o:p>

-Get rid of standing water around your house - mosquitoes might breed there. <o:p></o:p>

-Dispose of any unused outside water containers and drill holes in the bottom of containers that are left outdoors.

-Turn over plastic wading pools or wheelbarrows when not in use, and do not allow water to stagnate in birdbaths. <o:p></o:p>

-Clean clogged roof gutters regularly. <o:p></o:p>

-Ventilate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. <o:p></o:p>

-Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not in use. <o:p></o:p>

-If you have livestock, thoroughly clean their troughs every month.<o:p></o:p>

-Avoid the outdoors at dusk, in the early evening or at dawn when mosquitoes are heaviest. If you are outdoors during those times, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Bear in mind that mosquitoes can bite through thin cloth. <o:p></o:p>

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Our ‘Just Say No to Bugs�?Solution<o:p></o:p>

Buzz Away DEET-free repellent formulas from Quantum have been proven in University studies and by independent testing to be extremely effective �?and safe. <o:p></o:p>

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Waterproof Sunscreen/Mosquito Repellent<o:p></o:p>

Buzz Away makes a unique lotion that provides the double benefit of a waterproof SPF 15 sunscreen and natural DEET-free protection from bugs. Derived from natural oils of citronella, cedarwood, peppermint and lemongrass, Citronella Lotion Sunblock is an excellent, DEET-free way to enjoy those sun-shiny days. <o:p></o:p>

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If you intend to combine your own sunblock with a repellent, the most effective method is to apply the sunblock first, wait about ten minutes for it to absorb, then apply Buzz Away’s DEET-free spray or towelette insect repellent.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>© Quantum, Inc. 2004

http://www.quantumhealth.com/your_health/your_health_index.asp