[pct-l] Mosquitos, Permethrin and leave no trace

[aslive at charter.net]

Marr

Thanks for the information on Permethirn, it was very informative. 
Although I choose to continue to use it, I will not be using it below my 
belt.  I would hate to think that I am responsible for any environmental 
disruption.

Shepherd


On Sat, Apr 6, 2013 at 7:35 AM, Marr, Eli B wrote:

> There has been a lot of talk about mosquitoes and using Permethrin as 
> a repellent. Please read this so you can make an informed decisions on 
> whether or not you want to use the chemical in your hike.
>
> First let me say I am a cancer researcher at one of the best 
> Children's Hospital Research centers in the world. I am just a hiker 
> doing my first thru hike on the PCT and am concerned about the 
> environment and all of the great people I'm going to meet on my hike. 
> This being said, here is what I have found about Permethrin:
>
>
> Colombia gear and several other outfitters are selling anti-bug/insect 
> blocker clothing. This clothing contains the chemical Permethrin as 
> its active ingredient. You can also buy Permethrin at REI or other 
> outfitter stores to treat your clothes, bags and gear with. Permethrin 
> is EXTREMELY toxic to aquatic organisms and invertebrates and is 
> labeled as a carcinogen by the EPA. Columbia states their insect 
> blocker technology is completely safe and registered with the EPA 
> without restriction. Let me give you a few quotes directly from the 
> EPA website about Permethrin:
>
> The Agency classified Permethrin as “Likely to be Carcinogenic to 
> Humans”. This classification was based on two reproducible benign 
> tumor types (lung and liver) in the mouse, equivocal evidence of 
> carcinogenicity in Long- Evans rats, and supporting structural 
> activity relationship information.
>
> "The cancer risk estimates for adults exposed to surfaces treated with 
> permethrin from directed surface sprays were above the Agency’s LOC." 
> (Level of Concern: This is how the EPA rates products as potentially 
> hazardous to people or the environment. Below LOC=Safe. Above LOC= not 
> so safe)
>
> "Permethrin is highly toxic to both freshwater and estuarine aquatic 
> organisms. Most agricultural, public health, and down-the-drain 
> scenarios modeled resulted in exceedances in the acute risk quotient 
> (RQ) for freshwater and estuarine fish, invertebrates, and sediment 
> organisms."
>
> "All residential/recreational exposures are expected to be short-term 
> in duration. Therefore, no intermediate-term (1-6 months) or long-term 
> (>6 months) aggregate risk was assessed."
>
> Although not on the EPA site Permethrin is highly toxic to some 
> mammals like cats. They used it in flea and tick prevention until cats 
> started getting sick and dying. No more Permethrin allowed on cats.
>
>
> Though the concentration of Permethrin used by hikers is lower than 
> the EPA's limit keep in mind their limit was set for SHORT TERM use 
> only. They have done no studies whatsoever on how the chemical might 
> effect say... hikers who wear a Permethrin covered shirt for 5 months 
> on the PCT. I don't know about you but that makes me a bit nervous. 
> Permethrin is only absorbed into the skin at about a 2% rate (not that 
> high) and is broken down by the body over time. But it still makes me 
> nervous. I will be using Permethrin on my thru hike. It's effective 
> for repelling bugs and better than getting west nile virus from a 
> mosquito. However I am NOT applying it to anywhere touching my skin. 
> I'm putting it on my pack, parts of my hat and on sections of my tent 
> but it is not touching my clothes.
>
> For anyone following any guidelines for Leave No Trace: DO NOT WASH 
> YOUR PERMETHRIN COVERED CLOTHES IN ANY NATURAL WATER SOURCES!!! It 
> will directly harm the aquatic life. This has been proven through 
> multiple studies conducted by the EPA and other research centers. The 
> EPA has strict regulations on any release of Permethrin near water 
> sources. If you Permethrin your shoes, pants or socks and walk through 
> a stream it puts the Permethrin directly into the ecosystem. Please be 
> respectful of our environment and help keep the PCT clean for future 
> hikers.
>
> Thanks for reading and good luck to everyone! I leave for the trail in 
> a few days.
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