DEET-based mosquito repellents are almost a rage among people and there were clear reasons behind this wide acceptance of DEET-based repellents. DEET is one of the most effective mosquito repellents available in the market. And, therefore, N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, or DEET, became possibly the most widely used active ingredient in mosquito repellents. However, recent scientific research suggests that DEET has serious consequences on the human health. It is true that the CDC and the environmental protection agency advocate DEET usage provided it is being used as directed.
But, these institutions advocate DEET usage disregarding the fact that chemicals like DEET that are applied topically can cause serious damage to the organs in the body by getting mixed with the blood stream. The skin absorbs DEET and this facilitates its entry into the blood stream. DEET gets into the nervous system through the blood stream and it is thought that this can lead to neurological damage of the most severe kind. Children are under a heightened risk of DEET-borne perils as their skin absorbs this chemical more easily. DEET also makes a more sever impact on the nervous system of children as their nervous system is still under the development stage. In fact, the EPA is against frequent usage of DEET.
Institutions like CDC and EPA support DEET mainly because of the life-threatening diseases mosquitoes can spread. Therefore, these institutions are advising people to bear with this toxic just enough so that they prevent mosquito bites. However, this does not make DEET completely safe. Recent research on rats has revealed that death of brain cells occur as a result of prolonged DEET usage. In addition, this chemical should not be combined with other insecticides. It can also interact with other medications to cause harmful health effects.
Now, if DEET cannot be used, what can save humans from mosquito bites? There are several natural options available to keep away mosquitoes. Soybean oil is among the best natural mosquito repellents. Cloves, cinnamon oil, citronella oil and castor oil are commonly used ingredients of natural repellents. With the advancements in technology, new ways of blending and developing products have evolved. This makes natural repellents almost as effective as DEET-based repellents. So, why put your life at risk when you have such a safe and effective option available to you?
Showing posts with label deet free repellent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deet free repellent. Show all posts
Monday, August 3, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Hazards of Chemical-Based Mosquito Repellents
Around the world, millions of people make use of chemical-based mosquito repellents to get complete protection from mosquito bites. But the most common insect repellents and bug sprays used in several homes may be poisonous and are able to produce health problems in people especially for the children. They also pose many adverse effects to the life of pets along with the destruction of ecological balance of the nature. Even if the chemical ingredients present in these chemical-based mosquito repellents can effectively kill the mosquitoes in your home and locality, it can seriously harm your domestic animals, fishes and even plants.
To the chemicals in the environment, individuals have different tolerances. In the case of insect repellents, children are the most vulnerable group. With the exposure to chemicals, young children are susceptible to change in their brain chemistry. This is because of the fact that the skin of children tends to absorbs more chemicals. In addition, this can harshly result in impaired growth; and affect the development of the nervous system.
Some chemicals are even known to bring about genetic damage to animals along with the enumerable toxic issues that have been listed in human. Prolonged skin exposure to these chemicals produce skin allergies, eye irritations, redness, skin discoloration and inflammation. Constant and heavy exposure to chemical repellents can also cause breathlessness, constant fatigue, muscle and joint pain, generalized physical weakness, memory loss and persistent headaches. People typically develop tremors and shortness of breath when overexposed to the strong chemicals in these repellents.
DEET is a registered chemical ingredient that forms the active component of every chemical-based mosquito repellents. Chemical repellents that include DEET when applied on the topical areas easily penetrate into the skin to our blood stream and cause adverse health hazards on our central nervous system. DEET is also easily absorbed by the human’s gut to cause further more health hazards. Permithrin is another chemical that when combined with DEET can cause chronic memory dysfunction and motor deficits. Some DEET repellents also contain toxic chemical substances like isopropyl alcohol and ethyl that are highly harmful for children.
There are lots of botanical and natural mosquito repellents available in the market today that are effective in warding off mosquitoes without causing any health hazards. You can try out some natural repellents prepared with essential oils like citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, etc other than going for harmful chemical-based mosquito repellents.
To the chemicals in the environment, individuals have different tolerances. In the case of insect repellents, children are the most vulnerable group. With the exposure to chemicals, young children are susceptible to change in their brain chemistry. This is because of the fact that the skin of children tends to absorbs more chemicals. In addition, this can harshly result in impaired growth; and affect the development of the nervous system.
Some chemicals are even known to bring about genetic damage to animals along with the enumerable toxic issues that have been listed in human. Prolonged skin exposure to these chemicals produce skin allergies, eye irritations, redness, skin discoloration and inflammation. Constant and heavy exposure to chemical repellents can also cause breathlessness, constant fatigue, muscle and joint pain, generalized physical weakness, memory loss and persistent headaches. People typically develop tremors and shortness of breath when overexposed to the strong chemicals in these repellents.
DEET is a registered chemical ingredient that forms the active component of every chemical-based mosquito repellents. Chemical repellents that include DEET when applied on the topical areas easily penetrate into the skin to our blood stream and cause adverse health hazards on our central nervous system. DEET is also easily absorbed by the human’s gut to cause further more health hazards. Permithrin is another chemical that when combined with DEET can cause chronic memory dysfunction and motor deficits. Some DEET repellents also contain toxic chemical substances like isopropyl alcohol and ethyl that are highly harmful for children.
There are lots of botanical and natural mosquito repellents available in the market today that are effective in warding off mosquitoes without causing any health hazards. You can try out some natural repellents prepared with essential oils like citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, etc other than going for harmful chemical-based mosquito repellents.
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