KEEP PESKY CRITTERS AWAY WITH
THESE NATURAL APPROACHES
BY JESSICA RUBINO
bug off!
It’s nearly summertime and the livin’ is … hot, sticky and chock-full of skeeters and other pesky seasonal critters you’ll need to fend of. But before reaching for that bottle
of chemical bug spray, consider these more holistic preventive
measures. Where to start?
Get the deets on DEET
Chances are, if you’ve used bug spray, you’ve probably applied
DEET. “DEET is the most widely used insect repellent in the
U.S. and is the leading ingredient in most conventional bug
repellents,” says Lori Alper, founder of natural lifestyle blog
Groovy Green Livin ( groovygreenlivin.com).
So is it dangerous? Not when used properly, according to
the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental
Protection Agency. “Te tricky part is following the directions,”
says Alper. “Most of us don’t, and we end up applying too
much and leaving it on our skin for far too long. DEET then
becomes highly toxic.”
According to the EWG, one common mistake leading to
overexposure is using a sunscreen that also contains a chemical
bug repellent. Two-hour reapplication (as you should do for
sunscreen) can lead to overexposure to chemicals like DEET.
So use both a mineral-based sunscreen and an efective bug
repellent, but as separate products.
Another consideration: the environment. Alper notes that
in addition to physical concerns, “DEET is also toxic to birds,
animals and aquatic life.”
Natural protection that works
When it comes to “natural” bug repellents, the EWG’s Advice
for Avoiding Bug Bites ofers the simple—and most natural of
all—tip to start: “As your frst line of defense, cover up with
pants and long sleeves.”
Ten, it’s on to the more complicated part of choosing the
product that’s best for you and your family. Although ➻
