What's Bugging You?
Mosquito bites. What can you do to keep from getting them, besides slather yourself and your children down with dangerous DEET? Take a look at that "Family Insect Repellant" you are using. Most say "keep out of reach of children". Scary. Here is a few facts about DEET from the website http://www.environmentalhealth.ca/spring03hazards.html DEET is a registered pesticide. DEET is short for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide). It is a member of the toluene chemical family. Toluene is an organic solvent used in rubber and plastic cements and paint removers. DEET is absorbed through the skin and passes into the blood. The Medical Sciences Bulletin, published by Pharmaceutical Information Associates Ltd. reports, "Up to 56% of DEET applied topically penetrates intact human skin and 17% is absorbed into the bloodstream." Blood concentrations of about 3 mg per litre have been reported several hours after DEET repellent was applied...