DATA
Enter
HUFFINGTON
09.15.13
SOURCES: ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL DIVISION OF TOXICOLOGY AND HUMAN HEALTH SERVICES,
REUTERS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. PHOTO: TROY DUNHAM. ILLUSTRATIONS BY JAN DIEHM. MODEL: EVE BINDER
What’s in Your
Bug Spray?
You’ve probably been to your fair share of
BBQs and days at the beach this summer.
And that means you’ve slathered on some
bug spray. But if you’re careful about
the cosmetics and sunscreen that you
put on your skin... what about sprays that
are designed to repel living things? Enter
the Environmental Working Group. The
consumer health advocacy group took a
deep look at bug sprays, finding that the
majority are not only safe but effective
in protecting against insects that carry
disesases like West Nile virus and
Lyme disease. — Meredith Melnick
TAP FOR INFO
OIL OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS / PMD
PICARIDIN
WHAT IF YOUR REPELLENT ISN’T A SPRAY?
PERMETHRINTREATED
CLOTHING
Although tempting
because it isn’t
applied directly to the
skin, the insecticide
is considered more
toxic then the active
ingredient in sprays.
REPELLENT
CANDLES
Aside from being
ineffective, these
candles can produce
an inhalation
hazard.
CLIP-ON
REPELLENTS
These use
pesticides that are
more toxic then
spray ingredients
– and there’s some
evidence that they
aren’t as effective.
DEET
IR3535
MORE DANGEROUS: BUG BITES OR REPELLENT?
WEST NILE
VIRUS
Illnesses:
5,674 in 2012
Deaths:
286 in 2012
LYME
DISEASE
Illnesses:
23,364 in 2011
Deaths:
114 between
1999 and 2003
SKIN EXPOSURE
TO DEET
Illnesses: Seizures,
the most common
reported adverse effect,
occured in one per 100
million users. The EPA
said it wasn’t possible
to confirm the DEET
repellent as causal.