Serving Size: 4.92 MB Servings Per Container: 1 In Your Body On Your Body For Your Home For Your Family Seeking Medical Treatment How to Detoxify Your Body Guide to Symptoms A Healthy House Values, Vision & Mission Background & History Staff & Advisors News & Upcoming Events Join Our Mailing List Contact Us Recommended Resources Index of Terms Works Cited This product contains 100% natural ingredients. Easy Pay Pal Donations TNTP Grade A Brain-food More Special Features Back to Index of Terms The product Insect Repellent (in clothing) is in the following categories: Clothing Insect Repellent (in Clothing) CHEMICALS CONTAINED: A recent trend with outerwear is the presence of insect repellent in the garments themselves. The repellent used in these garments is permethrin, which is a pyrethroid pesticide. Pyrethroid pesticides are often found in foggers and sprays that you would use inside your home. The warning label on these foggers states that they should only be used when the area to be treated is vacated for several hours, and you should avoid contact with skin (among other warnings). This is not the same insect repellent that you would spray on yourself before going out for the day. Although the pesticide is in the garment itself, fabric fibers can easily escape garments in the form of lint which can be inhaled. Also, the clothing is rubbing against the skin and is often worn at times when the person is sweating, which opens the pores. (We think it’s safe to assume that people most often wear these clothes in the summer months, since that’s when there are insects to repel. We also think that it’s safe to assume that people sweat more outdoors in the summer than they do the rest of the year.) The companies that make these garments guarantee the insect repelling qualities for 25 washes. After the 25th wash they recommend that you wash the garment by itself, which may indicate that the chemical can “rub off” or be emitted when wet. HEALTH CONCERNS: Permethrin is a type of pyrethroid pesticide. Pyrethroids kill insects by causing their nerves to rapidly re-fire (through disruption of the sodium-potassium pump). All organisms share the same neurological processes, and since pesticides don’t target one organism like they claim to, all neurons – not just the one’s in insects – are affected. Yes, that means your pet’s neurons and your own. They also disrupt enzyme activity necessary for normal brain function, and significantly compromise the immune and antioxidant systems in the body. TIPS & ALTERNATIVES: Although the companies that make these garments state that they’re safe because “the pesticide is in the clothing, not on your skin,” we feel that they should be avoided and not worn ever. They market permethrin as “a man-made version of a repellent that occurs naturally in chrysanthemums,” which while that is true, definitely doesn’t convey the severity of the possible health effects of this pyrethroid. There are many products on the market today that repel insects using plant-based or derived oils, with no synthetic dyes or fragrances. And they do work! One drawback is that they usually need to be applied more frequently. Some natural insect repellents are vinegar, citronella, peppermint, garlic, and basil. You can rub vinegar on your skin and it evaporates quickly. If you’d rather exude a slightly more pleasing smell, you can add 2 – 3 drops of peppermint essential oil or citronella essential oil to 1 oz of either vegetable oil or vodka and apply to your skin. You can also burn citronella torches or candles outside. Mosquitoes hate the smell of garlic and can be deterred from biting you if you eat a lot of garlicky food. Just make sure that everyone your with is using the same method so you don’t repel them too! Back to Index of Terms