TIP TALKS

The Newsletter of the Toxics Information Project (TIP)

Summer 2003

 

Director’s Greeting

      With this issue, TIP initiates its promised newsletter.  The first question I want to raise and answer is:  Why?  Of course, the assumption could be made, “Well, organizations usually have one.  That’s why.”  But in an era of harried people with limited energy and time, bombarded by all kinds of informational or propaganda sources, I believe it is important to carefully think out the purpose and utility of yet one more publication.  And I think that TIP TALKS, as envisioned, will be different – not a typical newsletter.  How?

 

      TIP TALKS will address what I like to call the Spectrum of Sensitivity – the wide range of reactions perceived by people exposed to the chemicals in everyday products.  There is a tremendous gap between the ordinary person who senses no problems from such, and the person sick with MCS or CFIDS, so exhausted and reactive that they barely dare leave their homes and may be surviving on disability payments.  The latter are the most affected of a group dubbed “Canaries”, after the birds that miners used to take below ground with them as living alarm systems to warn them of toxic fumes.  The principle holds in the wider world – the more vulnerable canary becomes sick first, may even die – but if the miner does not remove himself from the fumes, he will also be overcome by the toxins.  TIP TALKS wishes to speak to ALL the people exposed to toxic chemicals, from the ones who may react with a slight headache, to those sickened for an hour, to the ones eventually afflicted with chronic conditions like asthma and allergies, and to those who may be unaware of the carcinogenic possibilities of some products they buy and use. 

 

      TIP TALKS will confront the abundance of information on the Internet, and attempt to save its readers the hours of surfing needed to emerge with small, practical TIPs, bits of information that will clarify questions and provide easy, simple steps toward living a less-toxic life.  We will also provide tastes of topics which readers might want to explore further, through Web links given or through TIP handouts.  Mostly, we’ll try to keep things short and to the point, based on several fairly simple principles:

 

Categories of Concern – What should we look for, in general – what in our lives should trigger a questioning, critical response?  Examples include cleaning chemicals, fragrance, pesticides, new furnishings and building/remodeling materials.  Having waded through the info about different chemicals, we’ll try to give readers general TIPs that don’t require a scientific degree for decisionmaking.  For example, you don’t need to know which of the thousands of synthetic petroleum-based derivatives is in a product to know that “fragrance” includes some that would be good to avoid.  You don’t need to realize what the “80% inerts” on a label include to understand that they could be anything at all – including something that is the active ingredient in another pesticide. 

 

Prioritizing.  You don’t need to do complicated figuring or go 100% organic to take very effective steps to reduce your exposure to toxics.  We simplify the process by emphasizing the most toxic, most used and easiest to replace.  You choose based on your own life style and the most comfortable changes for you.

 

      TIP TALKS will be responsive.  Few newsletters include “letters to the editor” as a significant feature.  We will seek and encourage questions, problems, solutions sent in by subscribers.  We’ll join the discussion, drawing on our ongoing research, initiating research in response to questions, and print useful input from other subscribers.  For those wanting to work through individual problems more extensively, we offer a “Supporter” level option that includes a personal consultation with our Director by phone or E-Mail. 

You can help us to be different – and valuable!  Send us your comments and questions today!

 

Liberty Goodwin, Director, Toxics Information Project (TIP)

 

TIP TOPICS

TIPS FOR SUMMER LIVING

 

This season brings some very specific needs with it – protection from the sun, concerns about sweat (and therefore, odor), fending off buzzing & biting pests, and the problems associated with chlorinated swimming pools.  TIP here begins to explore healthier summer strategies –

 

NOTE:  TIP does not endorse products, since we don’t have the resources for sufficient testing.  Items are featured because they seem to include mostly less-toxic ingredients, or are recommended by supporters.  Your input on effectiveness and toxicity can be invaluable!

WE ARE EAGER TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THOSE THAT WORK, AND THOSE THAT HAVE CAUSED REACTIONS.

 

All strategies begin with our two-word mantra:  READ LABELS.  Not just the fluff on the front, which often proclaims “natural”, “vitamins”, “herbs”, etc.  Read the back, especially the small print!  That’s where the less desirable ingredients will be tucked away.  You will probably not be able to avoid all unhealthy chemicals, especially in drug store or supermarket marketed brands - but you can reduce your exposure by watching out for a few of the worst.  In particular, “Fragrance” is a catch-all term for hundreds of synthetic, petroleum-based chemicals, mostly untested, some of which are known carcinogens or even have been banned.  Trade secrets legislation prevents enforcement of any  government protection.  This stuff also gives many people headaches or other reactions, and pollutes waterways.  If you must have a “nice smell” try for products with only pure essential oils – but be aware that some folks can react to those also.  It’s very individual.  Some other ingredients that have been identified by some as problematic:  PABA & alcohol (sunscreen), DEET (bug repellent), aluminum compounds (deodorant).

 

 

 

FRAGRANCE-FREE SUNBLOCKS

 

TerraSport™ and AquaSport™ sunblocks claim to protect you from the sun under intense activity and harsh environmental conditions, to dry super fast without alcohol and not sting your eyes.  Both formulas are PABA-free, contain no petroleum chemicals or animal by-products, and are not tested on animals.  The active ingredient is Z-Cote transparent zinc oxide which is recognized by the FDA as a Category 1 Skin Protectant and is recommended for use on compromised or environmentally challenged skin.  It is described as a non-toxic substance that will not cause allergic reactions.

 

Coppertone Spectra 3 Water Babies Triple Protection Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50, 6 fl oz (177 ml) provides UVA/UVB protection through fortification with zinc oxide.  It also contains vitamins A, C, E, and Chamomile, and is both alcohol and fragrance-free.  For adults and children

6 months of age and older.

 

WARNING GIVEN RE: SUNSCREEN & DEET COMBINATION

University of Manitoba pharmaceutical researcher Dr. Xiaochen Gu says using mosquito repellents with DEET and sunscreens with oxybenzone together increases their absorption rates.  That could increase the risk of side effects like skin allergy, hypertension, headaches and seizures, especially in children. 

Dr. Gu is also especially interested in how sunscreens and bug repellents affect children and seniors.  "Children have a large body surface area and tender skin, making them more prone to cross-skin absorption,” he says.  “People over 65 tend to have thinner skin and have had years of exposure to sun, which also makes their skin absorb more of these chemicals,"

 

INSECT REPELLENTS

 

Switch Hitter:  A chemically sensitive friend told me about an odd use for a familiar product.  Basic H laundry detergent from Shaklee.  She says she used it as a highly effective bug repellent while she was living in Florida!  Drove off the mosquitos, sand flies, etc.

 

Zero Bite by Raincoast Natural Products 1-800-206-4950.  Suggested by Lynn Ruggeri of our advisory committee, Zero Bite utilizes field and lab tested plant extracts.  It claims to give 4 hours of protection against ticks, black flies, mosquitoes etc.  Available at some health food stores.  Aubrey Organics has a similar product called GonE!  but Lynn has found Zero Bite works better. 

 

Bite Blocker, from Consep, Inc.,

Bend, Oregon)  Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Purified Water, Coconut Oil, Glycerin, Geranium Oil, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Sodium Bicarbonate and Vanillin. 

In studies at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, this product gave more than 97% protection against Aedes mosquitoes under field conditions, even 3.5 hours after application.  During the same period, a 6.65% DEET-based spray afforded 86% protection, and Avon Skin-So-Soft citronella-based repellent only 40% protection.  In a second study, Bite Blocker provided a mean ± SD of 200 ± 30 minutes of complete protection from mosquito bites

 

LABELS 101:  SUMMER OBFUSCATION

 

This season’s examples of vague and misleading claims & product info: 

 

1.  OFF!® Skintastic® Family Formula boldly displays “Unscented” on the front of the bottle and “fragrance” in small print under the content list on the back.  Bonus – along with the eagerly touted aloe vera, you’ll find DEET as an active ingredient! 

 

2.  OFF!® Botanicals™ Insect Repellent is, according to their website,  “a unique formula containing a new ingredient that duplicates the repellent naturally occurring in lemon eucalyptus oil”.  “Question:  Does OFF!® Botanicals™ Insect Repellent contain chemicals?  Answer:  Everything is composed of chemicals—even sugar, salt, and water are chemicals. The chemicals used in OFF!® Botanicals™ Insect Repellent are all cosmetic-grade materials that are formulated to provide superior performance when used as directed.” 

 

The label itself lists only the following:  Active ingredient: 10 % P-menthane-3,8 DIOL;  Other ingredients:  90% 

Left unanswered – what exactly is the source of the “light, clean fresh fragrance?”

 

DEODORANT FACTS

 

Sweat is associated with odor because of the action of bacteria on components of the sweat.  Products may approach the problem by inhibiting bacterial growth, inhibiting sweat secretion, or merely deodorizing.  Substances that inhibit perspiration by reducing pore size or by clogging pores to retard perspiration are antiperspirants.  Most deodorants and antiperspirants contain aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium, both highly soluble and readily absorbed into the skin.  Once in the body, the aluminum passes freely across cell membranes and is absorbed by the liver, kidney, brain, cartilage and bone marrow.  It is this concentration of aluminum that has been the source for concern in the medical community and has prompted extensive research into aluminum-based blood poisoning and other conditions. 

 

Deodorants and antiperspirants may also contain antibiotics and preservatives that can cause irritation, and ingredients that can photosensitize may also be present.  Cyclodextrins, baking soda or talc may be included to absorb moisture and odor. Antioxidants, anticholinergics and some extracts of herbal medicines are under investigation as active ingredients. 

 

NATURAL APPROACHES

 

Antioxidants such as Vitamin E may be beneficial to skin and help to limit the odor of sweat, but will do nothing to limit its production.  Essential oils extracted from plants and trees provide some measure of antiperspirant or deodorant activity.  Many have antiseptic or antibacterial action which accounts for their deodorizing properties.  Others are astringents or antiperspirants and actually decrease the amount of sweat produced by occluding or shrinking pores. 

 

BAKING SODA SIMPLE SOLUTION

 

Annie Berthold-Bond, of Care2.com offers this substitute for commercial deodorants.   TIP recommends it be given a try, since even fragrance-free products contain numerous synthetic chemicals, and essential oils are a problem for some.

 

Says Annie:  “Baking soda works wonders because it neutralizes the odor of sweat.  Just sprinkle a light covering of baking soda onto a damp washcloth.  Pat on.  Don’t rinse.  This tip—just using baking soda—has saved me on many occasions, especially when traveling.”

 

 

A CRYSTAL-CLEAR

DEODORANT OPTION

Crystal deodorant stones use natural mineral salts to kill odor-causing bacteria.  You wet the stone and apply to underarms, feet and other areas you want protected from body odors.  After use, rinse the crystal thoroughly and put away to dry.  One 2.85oz Crystal Deodorant Stone is claimed to last for nearly a year.  There are several brands, sometimes found at Health Food Stores.  TIP is still evaluating effectiveness.

 

CHLORINATED SWIM POOL RISKS

 

A recent study links children's exposure to nitrogen trichloride, a chlorination byproduct, at indoor swimming pools, to an increased risk in developing asthma.  Children can inhale significant amounts of  chlorine and chlorination byproducts at levels potentially damaging to their lungs from chlorinator tablets in pools, particularly if they frequently swim in indoor pools, and if high levels of urine or other acidic compounds are present in water.  Exposure to chlorine from a typical swim is roughly the same as occupational chlorine exposures.

Chloroform, a trihalomethane, is the volatile byproduct present at highest levels.  It is a carcinogen and developmental toxicant, among other things.  Exposure to chloroform from a typical swim is equivalent to an entire week's exposure from drinking and showering.

 

 Exposure is best kept at a minimum.  Some suggestions: 

1.  Swim outdoors and in natural waters as much as possible.

2.  Install an ozonator in your swimming pool, hot tub or jacuzzi to reduce the amount of  chlorine needed.  Many pool supply retail stores have them.

 

CANARY CORNER

 

We welcome comments and questions

about concerns of the chemically sensitive.

*****************************

"Killing Me Softly with His Lawn"

Anne Caputi, Newton TAB, June 13, 2001

 

Ah, the signs of Spring!  The birds are returning, the flowers are up, storm windows up, screens down.  We remember we have neighbors as everyone reinhabits their yards and takes to the street or a sunny spot for a spring break and the first rays of warmth.  Surely our ancestors for generations before us have reveled in the same sensual pleasures which follow the Vernal Equinox.  Ever so recently in human history however, new harbingers of spring have appeared.

 

Spring, my favorite season, has become a life-threatening time for me.  Now, with the daffodils, I wait for the sight of another patch of yellow sprouting atop a green stem.  This modern day sighting is a warning though, of the presence of dangerous chemicals. WARNING! my senses signal.  Cross the street. Get upwind, NOW!

 

You may think this sounds extreme.  Forgive me.  In 1997, at the age of thirty nine I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I was a model of low risk lifestyle for breast cancer.  However, I had been born on Long Island in the late nineteen fifties.  Surrounded by farms in my earliest years, and then by suburban subdivision, I lived in a sea of farm and lawn chemicals.  My system has been inundated with these chemicals for most of my life.  I played tennis all summer on grass tennis courts surrounded by an 18 hole golf course.  My uncle had a large fruit orchard which was sprayed with pesticides regularly.  We children picked the fruit off the trees and ate it unwashed.  My cousin was dead from cancer at age twenty four.

 

In 1985 I moved to Newton, seeking suburban refuge, a little distance from the pollution I'd been overwhelmed by living closer to Boston.  It was here that I first encountered the Chem Lawn phenomenon, and the little yellow warning signs.

 

One morning, a truck pulled up outside my house.  The driver/sprayer came to my door to inform us that a car had to be moved so that he could spray.  When I asked him why he explained that the spray could damage the finish on car paint.  I found this ironic that he was obliged to warn us to move cars, (liability) but saw no danger to me or to himself from exposure to the toxic chemicals he was about to unleash on my street.  I asked him whether he saw the irony in his company's concern for the liability risk if responsible for damaging someone's car, but not warning employees or citizens about the danger to our health imposed by the spraying.  "Oh no," he said, "it's very dilute, it's totally safe."

 

The truth is that pesticides can cause immediate effects such as eye and skin irritation, breathing problems, nausea, irritability and dizziness.  Long term effects include cancer, and irreversible damage to the nervous system, endocrine system, immune system, and lungs.

 

I am your neighbor, a fellow citizen of Newton.  Some of you may know me, most of you do not.  I am not your only neighbor in Newton who has cancer.  Newton has been cited for having an exceptionally high level of breast cancer within its borders.  I would like you to know how I feel when I walk the streets of our beautiful city and see a yellow sign on your lawn.  I feel assaulted.  I feel unwelcome.  I feel angered and threatened, less important than a green, picture perfect lawn.  I want to run for cover.  I cross the street.  I find it hard to smile if you are in your yard.  I say nothing, but want to say:  "I am the face of breast cancer.  I am your neighbor.  Your use of lawn chemicals threatens my existence and profoundly changes my ability to walk safely and freely in my neighborhood."  I want to say, "There are many of us, already diagnosed, and many more at risk, adults and children alike."  No one is immune to the effects of these dangerous and ubiquitous poisons.  If something can kill a bug, imagine what it can do to that many cells in the body of a child, or a dog, or in you.

 

We are blessed to live in a community which values environmental issues and is a trend setter in our state and region.  Eleven years ago, a group of citizens started the Green Decade Coalition.  One of its goals was to impact the city's use of toxic chemicals.  Since 1994 GreenCAP, the Committee for Alternatives to Pesticides has been organizing programs about the hazards of chemical pesticides and fertilizers and about the benefits of safe ecological approaches to landscaping and pest control.  I implore you to seek out and use the information and resources available to Newton residents.  Put GreenCAP's PESTICIDE FREE sign in your yard to show your support for safe lawns and a safe community.  Do it for your neighbor.  Do it for your children.  Do it for yourself.  Someone you love has cancer.  Many more will be diagnosed in your lifetime.  This is not a distant threat.  It's right in your own back yard.

 

Anne Caputi lives in Newton, MA, USA.  She can be reached at acaputi@rcn.com

*****************************************************************

A CALL FOR HELP:

 

TERMITE TREATMENT INDUCED ILLNESS & HOUSE DETOXIFICATION

 

In the interest of privacy, we don’t  use people’s  names or contact info except by specific request.

Please contact us if you have any helpful advice for this correspondent!  (Material about less-toxic termite treatment is posted on our website and enclosed as handouts for postal subscribers)

 

E-Mail Concern About Termite Treatments With Permithrin

 

A friend told me about you.  I have been having some problems with pesticide exposure from some termite treatments done to our home.  My friend said she thought you had some sort of similar experience.  I welcome any assistance, advice and resources.

 

In short, our home was treated in 97 drilled all around the perimeter and 75 gallons of Dragnet used (active ingredient Permethrin).  One year later we had more problems and they drilled our front porch pumping three gals.  They returned in June of 98 and pumped 10 gallons into the doorway of our home under the threshold.  The wood was not replaced under the door (half of the 4 x 4) was missing directly under the door.  The aluminum plate was caulked into place. 

 

The next day I had a scratchy throat and it got worse.  We finally associated it with the spray instead of a cold and opened the windows.  Two months later my legs were rigid for two days and my periods were heavy and painful which was very unusual for me.  The following month I had the same experience with my legs for two days and another horrible period.  I didn't have any idea why.  I told my doctor and she said I should be tested if it happened again.  4 months later my legs were stiff again but my periods were normal.  We didn't test and it hasn't happened again. 

 

Now, my sense of smell is not good for mild or moderate smells but I have also noticed that I am sensitive when I walk into stores with cheap clothing or if I go through the cleaning isle or the pesticide aisles of a store.  I feel like I can't breath and the smell hits me like a slap across the face.  I have just connected all of these problems and I am trying to get the company to at least repair the missing wood but I am also wanting to get them to remove the pesticide residual by flushing it with water.  One employee told me this could be done but all the big wigs are scoffing at the idea. 

 

NEWS ABOUT TIP

 

Check out our new, expanded Website, created with the help of wonderful Meggan Gould, and now being managed by our own Paul Klinkman.  Wearing yet another hat, Paul has taken on the job of Treasurer, to the relief of wife and TIP Director Liberty Goodwin, who hates spreadsheets!

 

Watch for info about our new Trading Tips discussion series about Less Toxic Living, starting September 16!

Topics will include an Intro; Personal Care & Cleaning Products; and 4 sessions on Healthier Holidays & Gift Ideas.

********************************************************************************

BOOK REVIEW

 

“Safe & Easy Lawn Care – The Complete Guide to Organic, Low-Maintenance Lawns By Barbara Ellis.  

This book is a stand-out for imaginative ideas and common-sense means of keeping your grounds healthy without toxic chemical baths.  The explanations are simple.  The illustrations are attractive, and clearly show a variety of creative landscaping options that take advantage of characteristics of a particular property.

********************************************************************************

BACK TO SCHOOL TIP:  Watch out for permanent magic markers that emit dangerous fumes.  You can’t always tell which they are, but read labels, and watch for “Non-Toxic”.  Avoid any that tell you to use only in a well-ventilated room, or warn you not to condense and inhale the vapors.  They can be sickening, even deadly.

*********************************************************************************

COMING IN AUTUMN ISSUE: Articles on Indoor Air Quality; Healthy Holiday Kitchens; Less-Toxic Gift Ideas; Creating Healthier Therapeutic Environments (in nursing homes, retirement & health care facilities).

 

We are seeking input about your experiences with the latter, as a resident, patient or worker, dealing

with reactions to/health effects from cleaning products, fragrances, other indoor air quality problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIP TALKS Summer Issue 2003

SUBSCRIPTIONS/SUPPORTERS

 

NEW:  Paula Goldberg, Chris Pontus, Domenic Bucci, Kathy Florsheim, Marcia Lowe

 

THANK YOU:  Meggan Gould, Chris Pontus, Lynn Tondat Ruggeri, Charlie Obert, Morris Bochner, Pam Webster

 

 

TOXICS INFORMATION PROJECT (TIP)

P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02940

Telephone (401) 351-9193

E-Mail:  TIPTALKS@toxicinfo.org

Web:  www.toxicsinfo.org

***************************************************************************

THOUGHTS ON DEET & LYME DISEASE

 

By Liberty Goodwin, Director, Toxics Information Project (TIP) 

 

Tel. 401-351-9193, E-Mail:  TIP@toxicsinfo.org,  Website:  www.toxicsinfo.org

 

Consumer Reports printed an article entitled “Protection at a Price-DEET’S DOWNSIDE”. (July 1993, pg. 453)  It points out that:  "DEET is readily absorbed into the bloodstream, and medical reports have shown that absorption of DEET sometimes has serious consequences.”  Among the most dramatic instances:  Six girls under age nine developed toxic encephalopathy, a swelling of the brain that can cause disorientation, convulsions, and death.  An ABC PrimeTime Live segment reported the stories of Tim Christiansen, who at 26 years old, died after using DEET twice one summer day in 1994; and of Elijah Harrison, an 8-year-old boy whose mother sprayed him with a 25% DEET product once a day for two days – he still suffers from seizure.

 

Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohammed Abou-Donia has been doing extensive research on DEET.  He says that children in particular are at risk for subtle brain changes caused by chemicals in the environment, because their skin more readily absorbs them, and chemicals more potently affect their developing nervous systems.  Commonly used preparations like insecticide-based lice-killing shampoos and insect repellents are assumed to be safe because severe consequences are rare in the medical literature.  Yet subtle symptoms -- such as muscle weakness, fatigue or memory lapses -- might be attributed erroneously to other causes, according to Abou-Donia..

 

On the Safe2use website, Patricia Taylor brings up another concern – that senior citizens using higher dosage applications of DEET should also be specifically precautioned about misuse.  They should especially be told to use DEET sparingly only on exposed skin and to not use DEET underneath clothing.  A senior citizen being brought into an emergency room suffering from incoherence, altered behavior, headache, restlessness, irritability, ataxia, rapid loss of consciousness, hypotension or seizures will not necessarily be screened for pesticide poisoning, but rather for other, more common, conditions to the elderly.  Seniors with chronic skin conditions should be extremely cautious about applying DEET to their skin.  DEET can exacerbate certain skin conditions and enters the body more quickly through wounds, where it is more toxic in the gut and eventually excreted through the kidneys.  Ms. Taylor also questions the high dosage of DEET in some products as being too toxic for this age group. 

 

The point has been made that short-term applications, especially of the lower-strength DEET formulas, do not appear to cause reactions in many people.  However, it is my observation that our society tends to minimize or miss the long-term, chronic effects of many chemicals.  Over and over, substances thought to be safe are later banned when evidence of their toxicity is finally unavoidable.  Years ago, the “safety” of DDT was loudly proclaimed.  The popular pesticide Dursban was recently forced off the market after years of use, because of health concerns.

In addition, research tends to focus on immediate, acute reactions,  and examines only individual chemicals, though synergistic effects between multiple substances can be significant.  Research is often done by persons with connections to the industry producing a product, raising questions of possible bias.  Moreover, it is not unheard of for findings to be stifled, and scientists to find their careers impeded by over-zealous attention to unwelcome results.  Product safety is at best an uncertain thing.

 

CONCERNS ABOUT LYME DISEASE

 

Lyme Disease is an infection that causes an inflammatory disease affecting the skin, joints, nervous system, and other organ systems.  Symptoms usually appear within a week or two of infection but may develop up to 30 days after the tick bite – or not at all.  The symptoms of early Lyme disease may include a red-ringed bull's-eye rash which appears either as a solid red expanding rash or blotch, or as a central red spot surrounded by clear skin that is ringed by an expanding red rash. 

The rash persists for as much as 3 to 5 weeks.  It may be warm to the touch and is usually not painful or itchy.  Other early localized signs include:  Swelling of lymph glands near the tick bite, fatigue, headache, achiness, joint pain , chills.  More serious symptoms, even death, may follow.

 

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO DEET?

 

There are a variety of natural insect repellents, including Bite Blocker , Buzz Away, Herbal Armor, Jungle Juice, Natrapel, citronella or lavender oil, catnip oil (avoid felines while using this one), rosemary, pennyroyal, lemongrass and cedarwood.  Some have proved very effective when tested in comparison with DEET – but with a caveat.  The major advantage of DEET seems to be its lasting power.  For example, a 7 % DEET formula (relatively low strength) might provide two hours protection, whereas the citronella (5-10 %) or lavender oil only about 30-60 minutes.  At this time, TIP has insufficient information to recommend any one product.  However, there is some research indicating that Bite Blocker may be competitive with DEET in protection time.  Watch the TIP Web Site for links and updates – and tell us what works for you.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

What then to do?  There is some comforting news.  First, ticks are unlikely to be found on well-mowed grass.  Second, the first line of defense according to most experts is avoidance.  This would include covering up, tucking jeans into socks, staying in the center of the path while walking, avoiding tall grass, not sitting on the ground.  It’s also good to know that, according to kidshealth.org/Nemours Foundation, your child's risk of developing Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick is only 1.4%.  To be safe, though, you'll want to remove the tick as soon as possible because risk of infection increases between 24 to 72 hours after the tick attaches to the skin.  This is a very important point.  According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), “The transmission of B. burgdorferi (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease) from an infected tick is unlikely to occur before 36 hours of tick attachment.  For this reason, daily checks for ticks and promptly removing any attached tick that you find will help prevent infection.”  The American Academy of Pediatrics says that transmission of the bacteria that causes Lyme “usually requires a prolonged duration of attachment (> 48 hours).  Of course, there is no guarantee of safety– I have heard a few reports of earlier infection.

 

Finding the ticks may be enhanced by wearing light colored clothing and by examining your skin in the shower after returning from an excursion.  Embedded ticks should be removed using fine-tipped tweezers.  DO NOT use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products.  Grasp the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible.  With a steady motion, pull the tick's body away from the skin.  The tick's mouthparts may remain in the skin, but do not be alarmed.  The bacteria that cause Lyme disease are contained in the tick's midgut or salivary glands.  Cleanse the area with an antiseptic.”  If you must remove the tick with your fingers, use a tissue or leaf to avoid contact with infected tick fluids.  Do not prick, crush or burn the tick, as it may release infected fluids or tissue.

 

TIP’s  present thinking about the DEET question is to use non-DEET alternative repellents, (preferably fragrance-free) – and apply them more often if needed.  Always check carefully for any ticks after possible exposure. It is probably unnecessary to apply insect repellent vs. ticks unless either entering a wooded or long grass area.  If you feel you must use DEET, use a product with the smallest percentage of it that seems effective.  Read labels carefully.  “DEET should be applied sparingly, according to product label instructions, only to exposed skin, and not to a child’s face, hands, or skin that is irritated or abraded.  After the child returns indoors, treated skin should be washed with soap and water,” advises the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Both the CDC and the AAP have issued cautions against any use of DEET on children under 3 years old.  This is because DEET enters the bloodstream through the skin (and can even pierce fabrics) and children seem especially susceptible to DEET-related problems.

ENVIRONMENT HEALTH COALITION

http://www.environmentalhealth.org/fs-termite.html

 

Alternatives to Toxic Termite Control, January, 2002

 

Environmental Health Coalition does not endorse any products or services. Although we have made every effort to verify that the information is complete and current, there may be additional alternatives or companies that we have inadvertently left out.

 

When Do You Need Termite Treatment?

 

According to the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, a large drywood colony consumes about half a pound of wood per year, and it takes seven years for a colony to develop to this size.¹ This means you have time to evaluate options for prevention and treatment before taking action.  This fact sheet includes a summary of termite eradication options as well as prevention options. EHC always recommends prevention as the first and foremost approach to dealing with any pest problem. However, if you are a tenant or a condo dweller, you may be in a situation where someone else is proposing to fumigate your home. In this case, the termite eradication alternatives may be the information you need immediately for avoiding fumigation.

 

Prevention

 

Drywood Termites

First, seal termites out.  Cover exposed wood with paint or sealer.  Caulk cracks and crevices. Screen windows and vents.

Second, treatment of exposed wood with borates or boric acid provides long term protection against infestation.

Subterranean Termites

Don’t have wood in contact with soil.

Cover exposed wood with paint or sealer.

Remove wood debris from your yard.

Plant trees away from house, and prune away vegetation that provides

 a bridge to the house.

Ants are predators of termites.  Do not kill ants that are not causing a nuisance

problem in the house.

 

Treatment Options

 

According to Sheila Daar and William and Helga Olkowski, " The most permanent, most effective

and safest treatment of the problem at the most reasonable cost may require a careful integration of activities carried out by the homeowner and a number of experienced professionals [ such as carpenters] from more than one company."  These are the nontoxic or least-toxic options that may be incorporated into your strategy:

 

Removal or repair of infested wood.  For a small infestation, this may be all that is needed.

Heat:  This involves tenting and heating either the whole structure or just a part of it up to 140 degrees F^o, a temperature that will not harm the structure. A test of termite eradication methods at UC Berkeley in 1996 resulted in a 100% mortality of termites in naturally infested wood boards treated with heat.³ Care is required to remove all household items that may be damaged by heat, such as electronic equipment.

Microwaves: this is a spot treatment method that also kills the termites by applying heat. The researchers cited above got a 100% mortality rate with this method as well, applied to naturally infested boards. Other studies have had varying success rates. House damage may include warped wood and wood burns.

Cold: cold treatment with liquid nitrogen is a spot treatment method whose effectiveness ranged from 74 to 100% in the above tests, depending on the dose used. This can be an effective method for inaccessible areas, as nitrogen is injected through small holes drilled into the walls. Frost formation within the house may damage some wall coverings. Drill holes must be repaired.

Electrocution: Called Electrogun, this is a spot treatment using volts of electricity, which kills termites in exposed wood. Mortality in the above tests was 95% four weeks after treatment in naturally infested wood. Drill holes and minor wood burns may result from the Electrogun method.

Borates: Borate salts or boric acid can be injected into wood as a treatment or applied to wood surfaces as a preventive measure. Borate dust may be used in wall voids as well. Borate foam is another form of borate that may be applied as a spot treatment. Depending on the product and treatment method, borates may act as a contact poison or a stomach poison. Borates should not be used on wood in contact with soil, as they are water soluble and will leach into the soil. Tim-Bor, Bora-Care, Jecta, and Impel are some brand names of borate products. Ethylene glycol may be added to liquid formulations of borates; this substance increases the penetration of the borate into wood but may be a problem for chemically sensitive individuals.

Fungal pathogens: BioBlast is the trade name of a method that utilizes a fungus that is deadly for termites when sprayed onto the infested wood.

Limonene or other citrus derivatives. Limonene has been used successfully as a pet flea control agent, and is now being applied to termite control. No information was found regarding the effectiveness of this method, whether it provides residual protection, or to what extent it is found in the indoor air of structures treated with it.

 

Neither borates nor fungal pathogens was tested in the Lewis-Haverty study cited above, so their effectiveness cannot be directly compared to the other drywood termite treatment methods.  Both of them provide some residual protection against reinfestations, whereas fumigation, heat, cold, and Electrogun do not.

 

Subterranean termites

Pyrethrins: pyrethrins are less acutely toxic (poisonous) than Vikane or Dursban, and they break down quickly when exposed to sunlight, so they are not persistent toxins. However, recent research has suggested that pyrethrins have hormone disrupting properties that raise concerns about human exposure to them.

Nematodes: certain species of nematodes attack insects rather than plant roots and can be used for subterranean termite control.

Sentricon/Recruit II is a Dow Agrosciences product that consists of a termite bait containing an insect growth regulator, hexaflumuron. The product is designed to used as part of an integrated pest management system and sold as a service, not over the counter. Hexaflumuron can cause irritation to eyes or skin but had low toxicity to rats who ate it or breathed it in laboratory studies. It is highly toxic to aquatic life and should not be used in low areas or near water sources.

Termidor is another relatively new product for subterranean termite control, to be used only by licensed termite exterminators. It contains fipronil, a phenyl pyrazole type of pesticide that kills by disrupting nerve transmission. It is irritating to eyes and skin, and is toxic by all routes of exposure (skin contact, breathing, ingestion). The acute toxicity of fipronil is moderately high, based on lab rat studies. Chronic toxicity studies show it is harmful to the nervous systems of both rats and dogs. It is classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a possible human carcinogen based on thyroid tumors in rat studies. It is toxic to aquatic wildlife and should not be used in low areas or near water sources.

 

For more information, or to share your own concerns, problems, comments, questions, contact:

Toxics Information Project (TIP), P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02940,

Tel. 401-351-9193,  E-Mail:  TIP@toxicsinfo.org  Website:  www.toxicsinfo.org