Page 5 - September 2020

the EPA’s “Find the Repellent that is ewg.org/research/ewgs-guide-bug-
Right for You” search tool which bases repellents; “Is DEET Bad for You (and
its recommendations on your inputs Your Kids)?”
regarding what you are trying to battle, health.clevelandclinic.org/is-deet-
how long you will be outside and bad-for-you-and-your-kids/.
That said, many of us are still concerned potentially exposed, active ingredient EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy
about the safety of DEET for our health preference, and even preferred brand Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3
and the environment. According to the name.
Dear EarthTalk: Is DEET natural and is it non-profit Environmental Working Group Resources: EPA’s “Find the Repellent nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://
safe to use topically as a mosquito repellent? (EWG), exposure to high concentrations of that is Right for You,” epa.gov/insect- emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://
And which formulations and concentrations DEET can irritate the eyes and in very rare repellents/find-repellent-right-you; earthtalk.org. Send questions to:
are advised? cases impair the nervous system, with EWG’s Guide to Bug Repellents, question@earthtalk.org.
— M. Frey, Milwaukee, WI symptoms including seizures, tremors and

Mosquitos 2020. League of Women Voters of Los Angeles | 3303 Wilshire Boulevard , Suite
Learn about the new voting experience rolling out in LA County for March
1200, Los Angeles, CA 90010

DEET (short for “diethyltoluamide”) is a
synthetic compound invented by the U.S. slurred speech. But despite these risks,
Army in 1946 that can be applied topically to EWG acknowledges that DEET is still Looking for a SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY?
repel mosquitos, ticks, fleas, chiggers, probably the safest option for preventing
leeches and other biting insects. Unlike other insect-borne diseases.
repellents which actually deter bugs with CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING FULLERTON
smells they don’t like—or even kill them on 373 E. Imperial Highway, Fullerton, CA 92835
contact—DEET just makes it harder for pests If you want to use DEET, keep in mind
to smell us so they are more likely to leave that pediatricians generally recommend
us alone. not using it on babies up to two months September 2020
old, but otherwise sticking to
concentrations of 10-30 percent for infants
DEET has been available to the general and children. The stronger the
public since the Army “released” it in 1957, concentration of the DEET you apply, the
and today it remains most people’s repellent longer lasting protection you’ll get from VIEW SERVICES on the INTERNET
of choice, with 90 percent market penetration mosquitoes. Consumer Reports found that
in the U.S. An estimated one-third of 99 percent of DEET formulations gave up www.CSLFullerton.org
Americans use DEET to protect them from to 12 hours of protection while lower
not only mosquito bites but also mosquito- concentrations (20-34 percent) lasted 3-6
borne illnesses like Eastern Equine hours. click Sundays/Past Services
Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, the Zika virus
and malaria, not to mention tick-borne
illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky If you want to avoid DEET altogether, Call for prayer & updates
Mountain spotted fever. there are several effective alternatives
available, including Picaridin and PMD
(AKA Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus). 714-525-1126
DEET is not only effective, it’s also Meanwhile, several botanical oils (castor
convenient; it is sold in a variety of oil, cedar oil, citronella oil, clove oil,
formulations (liquid, lotion, spray, geraniol oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint Choose Faith over Fear
towelette) ranging in strength from 5-99 oil, rosemary oil, soybean oil) are known
percent. The U.S. Environmental Protection for repelling insects, but EWG warns most
Agency (EPA) considers DEET safe to use of these are not very effective, won’t last
topically, and has approved 30 companies to long and could trigger allergic reactions
sell some 120 different DEET-based in the user on their own.
repellents online and in store shelves across Would your church like a listing in
the U.S. And with 90 percent market
penetration for insect repellents, DEET seems To decide what’s best for you and your NBY!? Send information to email
to be here to stay. family given where you live and the risks
for insect-borne diseases there, check out nbynews@juno.com - Attn: Amanda

September 2020 5