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To: Sustainable Maritimes (sust-mar) From: "Helen Jones" <hjones@chebucto.ns.ca>
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____________________________________________________________________________
Dear friends,
The first part of this message lists a number natural mosquito repellents.
The second portion includes information and references on the possible
health risks of DEET.
"I would never use a product that contained DEET," Michel Gaudet,
vice-president of the Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, said
this week. "You have to realize that whatever you put on your skin gets
absorbed. It's a health issue."
from "To DEET or not to DEET? That is the question" -Montreal Gazette, May
10, 2003.
Hope this is of interest,
Helen Jones
=================
MOSQUITO MANAGEMENT - PERSONAL
[Based on summary prepared by: Rohini Peris for The Coalition for
Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP) www.cap-quebec.com Additions to the
original are indicated by an asterisk (*)]
*MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FROM -
The CANADIAN COALITION FOR HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT (CCHE)
http://www.cche-info.com [pesticide-free solutions for WNV: removal of
breeding sites, CCHE General Statement, etc.]
*Planting Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) near your home repels mosquitoes.
"Mosquitoes stay away from Lemon Balm, guaranteed. I've used it for seven
years. Down the pathway, in front of the deck, down beside the shed.
Mosquitoes won't cross it."
-Larry Taylor, Inquiry Officer, Ontario Ministry of Environment [Melissa
attracts butterflies; is hardy to zone 4, is self-seeding, and reaches a
height of about 2 feet]
- For personal protection out of doors, protective clothing is always your
best defence. Wear light colours, long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Avoid sandals, floral prints, loose clothing, the color blue (the preferred
color of mosquitoes), hair spray, perfumes and other fragrances, *and some
soap residues, that are attractive to mosquitoes.
- Bathe regularly with peppermint, eucalyptus or unfragranced soap.
- Mosquitoes are also attracted to dark clothing (*especially blue), carbon
dioxide and sweat. Prime feeding times are late dusk and early evening.
- Buzz Away by QUANTUM is a non-toxic, outdoor protection formula of natural
ethyl alcohol from plants, plus essential oils of citronella, cedar wood,
lemon grass, peppermint and eucalyptus.
- Kiss Off! from KISS MY FACE contains citronella oil and Rhodinol (from
grasses grown in Sri Lanka) and Terpineol (from pine trees) along with
moisturizers and botanicals.
- Catnip is ten times MORE EFFECTIVE THAN DEET(1). It can be found at:
http://www.altnature.com/gallery/catnip_mosquito_repllent.htm
- Bite Blocker is another insect repellent on the market that combines
soybean oil, geranium oil and coconut oil; this product is also far superior
to DEET (1). http://www.homs.com/
- Fly Screen All Natural Insect Repellent for People. Contains 6% oil of
lavender in a vegetable oil base.
http://www.natural-insect-control.com/
- Apply repellent to exposed skin, sleeves and trouser cuffs.
- Mosquitoes are not strong flyers- so fans easily blow them away. Turn on
a fan in the evening or while sleeping. They will not bother you with a
breeze.
- There are new mosquito control devices, e.g., the Mosquito Magnet which
attracts and kills mosquitoes. [* bite rates may be higher close to the
device, though]. For more information: http://www.mosquitomagnet.com/ To
find out where to buy the Mosquito Magnet contact:
National Energy Equipment, 10801 Ray-Lawson, Anjou, QC H1J 1M5.
Tel: 514.353.3001, Fax: 514.355.2223, Toll Free: 800.363.9960 .
- Resist going on a swatting rampage when biting insects start hovering
overhead. Studies indicate that such movement can double the number of
mosquitoes attracted to you.
- CAMPERS can use fans and/or hang mosquito netting over cots, tent
openings, picnic tables, etc. Long sleeves, long pants, hats, and veils
give additional protection from mosquitoes.
Caution: If you are pregnant, do not use pennyroyal, even topically, as it
may increase the risk of miscarriage.
Note: Citronella oil has been known to attract female black bears.
Excerpts taken from: http://www.thebestcontrol.com/chapter-23/23.htm and,
http://www.thebestcontrol.com/chapter-23/Mosquitos-Part2.htm
(1) DEET NOTE: Florida health officials note some serious reactions
involving children (including a few deaths) have been reported that may have
been linked to this repellent. DEET can cause eye and sinus irritation,
headaches, insomnia, confusion, etc. DEET can dissolve nylon and plastic.
=================
DEET - Possible health risks
=================
===============================
PEER REVIEWED abstracts on DEET
===============================
(Some of the specific ingredients in DEET are listed near the bottom of
this page.)
The peer reviewed abstracts below suggest serious complications
such as toxic encephalopathy and deaths from use of DEET
--most often seen in children.
Adult cases are also cited. Although these cases may be rare,
one almost never sees possible complications such as these reported
in the press or cited by government agencies.
Of great concern to health advocates are the secrecy and misleading terms
given to the unknown ingredients in products, often called "inert"
ingredient,
"other" ingredients, or "other compounds", that are often toxic.
Manufacturers argue that secrecy is necessary to protect product trade
secrets. Health
advocates say this argument is specious due to patent protections and to
readily available
reverse-engineering technologies that make it possible for competitors to
determine the
chemical makeup of any product.
Not just consumers are worried about secret ingredients. Medical emergency
teams lose precious time trying to determine what other chemicals are
involved in a given exposure. Look at the last entry below the peer reviewed
abstracts on DEET, under the heading "Emergency Medical Treatment" and note
that the
chemicals in DEET products, referred to as "OTHER COMPOUNDS", may play an
important role
in toxic effects seen in emergency health situations.
A. Hotz
***************************************
Selected peer reviewed articles below were found at:
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/
click on HSDB, search word <DEET>
[. . .]
SUST-MAR MESSAGE EDITED FOR SPACE -- CONTACT SENDER FOR FULL MESSAGE
[. . .]
Helen Jones MSc., EdD
Past Member, Pesticide Bylaw Advisory Committee
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)
Board Member, Real Alternatives to Toxins in the Environment (RATE),
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/RATE/
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
SUST_MAR WEB PICKS
GROUND CREWS BATTLE FOREST FIRE
Eight firefighters are now part of the team trying to contain a forest fire in Nova Scotia's largest wilderness reserve.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_firecrew20030523
CRABBERS END SEASON BOYCOTT
Crab fishermen from Antigonish and Inverness counties untied their boats Friday morning, and headed for the fishing grounds.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_crabgo20030523
POWER RATES GOING UP?
It may cost you more to watch TV and turn on house lights.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_nspup20030523
© Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
THE *REAL* SAVING PRIVATE LYNCH
If you watched the daring rescue, you might want to see this as well.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1051643375850
MCCARTHYISM WATCH
By Matthew Rothschild, Progressive.org
The editors at the Progressive track cases where citizens' rights have been violated due to the post 9-11 environment of fear.
http://www.utne.com/webwatch/2003_61/news/10568-1.html
____________________________________________________________________________
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