[at-l] DEET

[orangebug74@yahoo.com (Orange Bug)]

All of your points are on the beam. The other issue is the marketing
interests of the Duke/NC State faculty in promoting the catnip product
(that will be out real soon). The claims of toxicity with DEET are very
easy to hear anecdotally, but difficult to locate in hard fact. The
idea of less than 50 adverse events in over 50 years sounds safer than
water or aspirin, to this otherwise cautious person.

The report from U of F reviewing numerous products sounded very sound
and non-biased with economic interest in the outcome. I'm looking
forward to reading the hard copy, and not just glancing at news
reports.

Bill...

--- Bryan Kramer <jbkramer@afn.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Nope only currently available material, there is another product
> reportedly on the way that is supposed to be very effective too. My
> feelings on DEET is that if there are any adverse effects with normal
> use they must be mighty hard to see since there are few products that
> have been used as much and on as many people as DEET. If they do come
> out with something as effective and costing about the same I will be
> happy to try it. But why folks assume something like catnip oil will
> be completely innocuous is a mystery to me, how many people has it
> been tested on? Just because it's a natural product doesn't make it
> completely safe: curare, amatoxin and ricin are natural after all.
> 
> Bryan
> 
> > 
> > They didn't test catnip oil in that study, did they, only 
> > commercial products? A University of Iowa researcher found 
> > that catnip oil was 10 times more repellent than DEET (and 
> > repels roaches too - dual use!). 
> > 
> > Again, not to take sides, since DEET clearly has it's place, 
> > but to present all evidence:
> > 
> > A radio interview yesterday with a Duke University research 
> > doctor illuminated his latest findings on DEET. DEET over 
> > long periods (He said a week or more) DID affect the areas of 
> > the brain concerned with memory and also (here I dredging 
> > from memory) fine motor skills. It killed cells, is what he said.
> > 
> > Another finding of this latest research was that DEET in 
> > combination with other medications, chemicals and ESPECIALLY 
> > IN COMBINATION WITH PEMETHRIN was especially toxic. Don't 
> > some folks soak their gear in permethrin solutions?
> > 
> > If this doctor's research is correct, and the latest 
> > findings, then the above article, while accurate, is not 
> > accounting for the unseen damage, perhaps. This damage is 
> > cumulative, the researcher said..
> > 
> > I have to leave for several days, but if someone is 
> > interested in tracking this down or having me do so, it was 
> > on NC public radio, "The State of Things". I recognize right 
> > now it's just hearsay.
> > 
> > Just looking at all the options.


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