Re[2]: [at-l] Thinking About Ticks - Long

[Bob C." <ellen@clinic.net (Bob C.)]

"...  DEET doesn't dissolve plastic, but the alcohol it's suspended in does - so
be careful." says Shane.

Shane   has   offered   some   very   sage  advice.  Everyone  should  heed  his
recommendations  --  though  I  personally find aerosol DEETS to polluting of my
personal  air  space  and  too  heavy,  so  I  stick with the 100 percent liquid
versions.

However,  I  vaguely  remember  reading  that  DEET  began life as an industrial
solvent  that  by  happenstance  was  found to repel bugs. I know my 100 percent
liquid DEET dissolves plastic. I have a pair of etched reading glasses that came
in  contact with a bottle of 100 percent deet with a loose cap. Every summer the
palms  of  my  DEET  coated  hands  turn black when I run my lawnmower with it's
synthetic handle grips.

And  for some reason the container of 100 percent DEET urges that it be kept off
"synthetics, furniture, plastics and paints."

 Weary