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Download a Special Report on Alternatives to Chemical Mosquito Repellents (pdf) In light of the growing interest in non-toxic mosquito repellent, especially among parents of young children, The Sustainability Institute at Molloy College researched the availability of Lemon Eucalyptus personal repellents and garlic based area repellents at Long Island retail stores. The good news is that the products are available if you know what to search for and where to look. However, the bad news is that the availability of the products is inconsistent and many people may discover that the natural repellents are a challenge to find. Fortunately, these products are also available on the internet at well-known sites such as Amazon.com.
The Centers for Disease Control has recommended oil of lemon eucalyptus as effective against mosquitoes that carry disease. This ingredient is found in products such as: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent, and Kiss My Face SwyFlotter Tick & Insect Repellent With Lemon Eucalyptus. The websites for Repel and Cutter do not sell the products and instead refer people to a list of chain stores, which our survey found, often don’t carry the products.
Our survey of 57 Long Island stores found that either the Repel® or Cutter® Lemon Eucalyptus product was available at only 19. Most Target stores carried the Cutter brand, but only a few Walmart and Ace Hardware stores on Long Island actually carry the products despite both chains being listed on either the manufacturers’ websites or their own as selling the products. Of 42 large retail department stores checked, 15 had one of these products. Some health food stores sell Kiss My Face® Swy Flotter. Of the 15 health food stores surveyed, 4 had the product. As informed consumers, Long Islanders can use our dollars to increase supply and placement of these products by asking store managers to stock their shelves with these less toxic products.
Some sites to find products online Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent Kiss My Face SwyFlotter Tick & Insect Repellent With Lemon Eucalyptus How can you keep your yard chemical free and non-toxic while eliminating mosquitoes? One alternative is garlic. Garlic Barrier® and Mosquito Barrier® produced by Garlic Research Labs in California have been proven effective in several tests including one by the Division of Malaria Control in Kenya, which showed that Mosquito Barrier is effective against both Anopheles and Culex adult mosquitoes. The staff of the Sustainability Institute have, for several years, recommended the use of garlic juice as a way to rid yards of mosquitoes so that people can enjoy backyard barbecues and other activities. This recommendation was based on efficacy study results and positive feedback from many Long Islanders who found garlic juice very effective.
Garlic Barrier® and Mosquito Barrier®, can be difficult to find at local stores, however it is worth the effort to find them. They are easy to apply, non-toxic and effective. The application process requires a basic pump sprayer (two common brands are Hudson and Solo) or hose-end sprayer. The product should be sprayed onto both sides of the leaves on all types of trees and bushes in the area being treated. Particular attention should be given to greenery around the perimeter of the property. The treatment should last for about two weeks, but remember that the more often it rains the more frequently you will need to re-apply the treatment. If you have an event planned, applying the product a few days before should provide the best results. It is very common for people to ask if the yard will smell like garlic. Generally, humans only notice the smell for a few hours after application. Mosquitoes, however, have a very powerful sense of smell and find it overpowering, which causes them head in another direction. Bonide Mosquito Defeater® and Gro-Well Mosquito Shield® are granular area repellents that contain garlic along with other herbal ingredients. They were more commonly available in the stores surveyed, however the Sustainability Institute has less information on their effectiveness. Out of 27 better nurseries and lawn and garden stores on Long Island, 15 were found to carry an area insect repellent product containing garlic. Atlantic Nurseries, Freeport * Garlic Barrier or Mosquito Barrier available. Where to find Garlic Barrier and Mosquito Barrier online: Landscapers that provide garlic spraying service:
Other Non-Toxic Mosquito Control Services:
Have you tried any of these products? Were you satisfied with them? Do you know of other stores where they are available? Let us know. Send us an email. Controversy Associated with DEET Mosquito Repellents: The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (part of the federal Department of Health & Human Services) has documented several reported cases of skin irritation, headaches, and dizziness after use of products containing DEET. There are also several reports of severe temporary psychological effects such as disorientation in adults, reproductive effects after use by pregnant women, and even several childhood deaths given repeated or heavy usage of the product. www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/deet/health-effects.html Due to its effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes, however, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommend the use of DEET, following label instructions with the additional recommendation that it not be applied to skin that will be covered by clothing. EPA claims in a DEET factsheet, in reference to use on children, that “There [is] no data showing incidents that would lead EPA to believe there is a need to restrict the use of DEET.” www.epa.gov/opp00001/factsheets/chemicals/deet.htm Because of this seemingly conflicting information, national advocacy organization Beyond Pesticides has recommended avoiding DEET, and points out that several of the government use recommendations are impractical or unlikely to occur; for example, not applying over cuts or wounds, not applying near children’s hands or face, and washing all treated skin with soap and water after returning indoors. www.beyondpesticides.org/mosquito/documents/LesstoxRepellents.pdf It is up to consumers what decisions to make regarding protecting their families from mosquitoes and the associated diseases they may carry. Therefore again, the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College is operating on the “Precautionary Principle” which suggests that it is better to use a safer option until the conventional product is proven safe – in simple terms, “better safe than sorry.“ We are providing this survey information to make consumers aware of the several choices available and to ask for them at local stores. Many stores were lacking in the available options, and consumers have the power to change the market by creating demand. |
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