Popular insect repellent deet affects nervous system (Oy!)

Are_grits_groceries

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Fri Aug-07-09 10:31 AM
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Popular insect repellent deet affects nervous system (Oy!)

The active ingredient in many insect repellents, deet, has been found to be toxic to the central nervous system. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Biology say that more investigations are urgently needed to confirm or dismiss any potential neurotoxicity to humans, especially when deet-based repellents are used in combination with other neurotoxic insecticides.

http://www.physorg.com/news168675389.html

Well, this may explain a lot of things. Using Deet is practically a religious ritual here. If these findings are confirmed, it could explain more cases of ALS and whatever.

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MADem

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Fri Aug-07-09 10:34 AM
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1. I never liked putting it on bare skin--I would use it on clothes.

Spray it on a crappy pair of trousers and a shirt....and that seemed to do the trick, pretty much.

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ensho

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Fri Aug-07-09 10:35 AM
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2. kick - important info

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bullimiami

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Fri Aug-07-09 10:36 AM
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3. this is not new.

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mike_c

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Fri Aug-07-09 10:39 AM
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4. interesting-- I was taught this in grad school, 20 years ago....

Hasn't stopped me from using DEET-- when used correctly, the chances of damage are far less than the chances of disease or injury from biting flies and ticks. But my point is that we learned this 20 years ago more-or-less as background information for ecological/entomological field workers. I didn't research the matter, just accepted it as likely true since the folks who told me generally knew what they were talking about. I've been teaching this to my own students ever since.

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madokie

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Fri Aug-07-09 10:40 AM
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5. I'm one of the lucky ones who aren't really bothered by insects

I don't use any deet

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Coventina

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Fri Aug-07-09 10:57 AM
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6. Yikes! I spent two weeks covered in 100% Deet, head to toe,

awhile back when I was in Southeast Asia.

:-(

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MercutioATC

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Fri Aug-07-09 11:07 AM
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7. MUCH better alternative to DEET..."Cactus Juice"

http://www.cactusjuicetm.com/

I've used it for years. It works.

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frylock

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Fri Aug-07-09 12:57 PM
Response to Reply #7

9. thanks for the info..

i hate using deet, but spend a week walking around the Sierra every year. i'll give this a shot.

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MercutioATC

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Fri Aug-07-09 01:33 PM
Response to Reply #9

11. DEET will actually eat plastic.

I used Cactus Juice in Costa Rica for nine days (Osa Peninsula. Rainforest, not city environment).

TWO mosquito bites in those nine days.

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frylock

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Fri Aug-07-09 02:43 PM
Response to Reply #11

12. just ordered a bottle of the cactus juice..

looking forward to trying it out. thanks again!

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MercutioATC

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Fri Aug-07-09 05:48 PM
Response to Reply #12

13. Np. It even smells good.

Citrus

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mod mom

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Fri Aug-07-09 11:10 AM
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8. I just discovered the Flea/Tick treatment I use might be causing Grand Mal Seizures in my dog

I am very wary of pesticide use!

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PVnRT

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Fri Aug-07-09 01:29 PM
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10. Pretty much all insect killers/repellants could potentially be nerve agents

In fact, where I used to work, they would have to notify the plant that bug spraying was going on, just in case they got to close to one of the VX monitors on site.

That said, these kinds of nerve agents work basically by putting your nervous system into overdrive, forcing your body to shut down permanently (same effect on bugs). That makes me wonder what the connection to ALS could be, since I didn't know it had anything to do with acetylcholine levels in the body.

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