Say it: Don't Spray it...or should you?
To spray or not to spray - in a time when we are all concerned with the environment, or at least concerned about the health of the environmental effects our health - that is the question. Whether it's spraying in your neighborhood or yard or on your body the types of insect repellents and killing cocktails vary in their toxicity to humans (and other animals) and effectiveness against doing their job (killing or repelling). But with concerns about insect borne diseases we feel as if we have to do something.
For the neighborhood: In Connecticut and New York (likely other places) a product called Scourge is sprayed from a fogger usually from a truck driving around the block. A scourge is a multi-tailed lash used to whip bad guys or to clear oneself from sins in medieval Europe. I guess the name "Scourge" is supposed
to refer to the chemical's punishing action on the mosquitoes - teaching those little winged syringes a lesson. Scourge's active ingredient is something called "pyrethrin", a man-made chemical modeled after oils extracted from Chrysanthemums. Sounds so pleasant when put in that manner - "ahhhh...made from flowers". According to the National Pesticide Information Center, the active ingredient in scourge only causes cancer in rats when they are fed daily high doses of the stuff for two years. Huh.
What concerns me is that the same "safe" pesticides were boasted in the mid-20th century with chemicals such as DDT and Chlordane. Both cause health problems in humans - it just takes a little while (years) before we see it. Besides - the trucks that spray Scourge only hit about 10-20 feet into the woods. It is very toxic to fish, too. Not only are they wasting money and killing beneficial insects like bees but it is putting chemicals into the environment that don't have to be there.
For our more intimate environs there's DEET - the active ingredient in things like Deep Woods OFF!. DEET is actually not a repellent. It's a confusant. Ticks and mosquitoes zero in on us from the release of carbon dioxide and other smells emanating from our bodies. Also attracted to heat and moving objects the would-be-parasites still see the welcome sign but can't quite find the right spot to park the mouthparts. DEET blocks our blood-thirsty insect attracting scent and when the offending bugs come in close for a meal they just can't find a place to bite. Even though DEET is a personal spray it should not be applied to the skin - spray it on clothing.
For the neighborhood: In Connecticut and New York (likely other places) a product called Scourge is sprayed from a fogger usually from a truck driving around the block. A scourge is a multi-tailed lash used to whip bad guys or to clear oneself from sins in medieval Europe. I guess the name "Scourge" is supposed
to refer to the chemical's punishing action on the mosquitoes - teaching those little winged syringes a lesson. Scourge's active ingredient is something called "pyrethrin", a man-made chemical modeled after oils extracted from Chrysanthemums. Sounds so pleasant when put in that manner - "ahhhh...made from flowers". According to the National Pesticide Information Center, the active ingredient in scourge only causes cancer in rats when they are fed daily high doses of the stuff for two years. Huh.What concerns me is that the same "safe" pesticides were boasted in the mid-20th century with chemicals such as DDT and Chlordane. Both cause health problems in humans - it just takes a little while (years) before we see it. Besides - the trucks that spray Scourge only hit about 10-20 feet into the woods. It is very toxic to fish, too. Not only are they wasting money and killing beneficial insects like bees but it is putting chemicals into the environment that don't have to be there.
For our more intimate environs there's DEET - the active ingredient in things like Deep Woods OFF!. DEET is actually not a repellent. It's a confusant. Ticks and mosquitoes zero in on us from the release of carbon dioxide and other smells emanating from our bodies. Also attracted to heat and moving objects the would-be-parasites still see the welcome sign but can't quite find the right spot to park the mouthparts. DEET blocks our blood-thirsty insect attracting scent and when the offending bugs come in close for a meal they just can't find a place to bite. Even though DEET is a personal spray it should not be applied to the skin - spray it on clothing.
To spray or not to spray - in a time when we are all concerned with the environment, or at least concerned about the health of the environment effects our health - that is the question. Whether it's spraying in your neighborhood or yard or on your body the types of insect repellents and killing cocktails vary in their toxicity to humans (and other animals) and effectiveness against doing their job (killing or repelling). But with concerns about insect borne diseases we feel as if we have to do something.
For the neighborhood: In Connecticut and New York (likely other places) a product called Scourge is sprayed from a fogger usually from a truck driving around the block. A scourge is a multi-tailed lash used to whip bad guys or to clear oneself from sins in medieval Europe. Iguess the name "Scourge" is supposed to refer to the chemical's punishing action on the mosquitoes - teaching those little winged syringes a lesson. Scourge's active ingredient is something called "pyrethrin", a man-made chemical modeled after oils extracted from Chrysanthemums. Sounds so pleasant when put in that manner - "ahhhh...made from flowers". According to the National Pesticide Information Center, the active ingredient in scourge only causes cancer in rats when they are fed daily high doses of the stuff for two years. Huh.
What concerns me is that the same "safe" pesticides were boasted in the mid-20th century with chemicals such as DDT and Chlordane. Both cause health problems in humans - it just takes a little while (years) before we see it. Besides - the trucks that spray Scourge only hit about 10-20 feet into the woods. It is very toxic to fish, too. Not only are they wasting money and killing beneficial insects like bees but it is putting chemicals into the environment that don't have to be there.
Then there's DEET - the active ingredient in things like Deep Woods OFF! DEET is actually not a repellent. It is a confusant. Ticks and mosquitoes zero in on us from the release of carbon dioxide and other smells. DEET blocks our smell and when the offending bugs come in close for a meal they just can't find a place to bite. Even though DEET is a personal spray it should not be applied to the skin - spray it on clothing.
For the neighborhood: In Connecticut and New York (likely other places) a product called Scourge is sprayed from a fogger usually from a truck driving around the block. A scourge is a multi-tailed lash used to whip bad guys or to clear oneself from sins in medieval Europe. I
guess the name "Scourge" is supposed to refer to the chemical's punishing action on the mosquitoes - teaching those little winged syringes a lesson. Scourge's active ingredient is something called "pyrethrin", a man-made chemical modeled after oils extracted from Chrysanthemums. Sounds so pleasant when put in that manner - "ahhhh...made from flowers". According to the National Pesticide Information Center, the active ingredient in scourge only causes cancer in rats when they are fed daily high doses of the stuff for two years. Huh.What concerns me is that the same "safe" pesticides were boasted in the mid-20th century with chemicals such as DDT and Chlordane. Both cause health problems in humans - it just takes a little while (years) before we see it. Besides - the trucks that spray Scourge only hit about 10-20 feet into the woods. It is very toxic to fish, too. Not only are they wasting money and killing beneficial insects like bees but it is putting chemicals into the environment that don't have to be there.
Then there's DEET - the active ingredient in things like Deep Woods OFF! DEET is actually not a repellent. It is a confusant. Ticks and mosquitoes zero in on us from the release of carbon dioxide and other smells. DEET blocks our smell and when the offending bugs come in close for a meal they just can't find a place to bite. Even though DEET is a personal spray it should not be applied to the skin - spray it on clothing.
Categories
mosquitoes , ticks0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Say it: Don't Spray it...or should you?.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.entomologia.org/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/10
Are there any natural repellents for people like me who are the mosquitoes main course? I cannot go outdoors in the evening without dousing myself in DEET, which seems to be the only thing that works for me. I hate to use it but its better then being eaten alive! I would love to find a natural alternative if you have any suggestions i would appreciate it.
Thanks.
I used Burt's Bees repellent in China where there were lots of hungry mosquitoes. Seemed to work but reapplication was necessary since I was sweatin'.