The Dangers of DEET to you and your family
Outdoor excursions are bound to expose you to insects and bugs. Leaving
aside the itch of being bitten by a bug, there is yet another grave
danger that you may face- illness. Almost all insects and bugs are
carriers of some disease or the other. This is specifically true in case
of mosquitoes. They are the carriers of diseases such as the West Nile
Virus, Dengue, Malaria and Encephalitis.
Repellants
In order to protect yourself from being bitten or being affected by any
insects or bugs, you should use a safe mosquito repellent that is easily
available in the market. There are creams, lotions, sprays, and
vaporizers etc. Out of all such mosquito repellents, the most affective
one is DEET. DEET is a toxic chemical, which is also known by its
scientific name- Diethyl Toluamide. The usage of DEET has proven to be
most effective in preventing mosquito bites and insect bites.
Interestingly, DEET does not repel bugs from biting, but it repels
disease carrying micro organisms from spreading the illness.
Understanding DEET
Given its efficiency in keeping diseases at bay, DEET is being used
extensively in the insect/bug repellents available in the market. But,
it is not really a good thing. Certain reports have proved that DEET has
side-effects which can be more harmful than the disease itself. The
prolonged usage of DEET has shown hazardous health effects. In fact, the
risks faced with DEET are much higher than its utility.
Studies
Scientists conducted an experiment at the Duke University in order to
test the alarming health effects of DEET. They exposed rats with DEET on
a prolonged basis and shockingly, this led to brain cell damage in
them. They perished in no time. The result concluded the fact that
people should strictly avoid the usage of DEET related products, because
the risks faced with DEET are extremely high. However, the number of
experiments conducted on this topic is relatively small and thus, the
thriving DEET industry!
Surprisingly, many reports showcase that the risks faced with DEET have
been known to the repellent industry, yet they have neglected the
gruesome fact. Apparently, it is the risk of being exposed to killer
diseases that has led the producers to negate the effects of DEET and to
devise DEET free repellents.
Many consumer studies have showed that there are other DEET free
repellents that are as affective as the ones with DEET. According to the
reports, DEET free bug repellents such as Picardin and Lemon Eucalyptus
oil are equally effective in preventing bites and spread of diseases.
Such repellents carry no dangers whatsoever and can be used by kids as
well.
