"Buzz Off"--A New Way to Ward Off Bugs

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

10 Jul 2006 06:01 AM

It's the hottest trend in outdoor gear. No, not the "Throw-and-Go" Pup Tent or gourmet MRE's (Meals Ready To Eat). I'm talking about bug-repellent clothes... and you don't have to be an avid hiker, fly-fisherman, or bird watcher to appreciate them.

We all know that mosquitoes can turn a lovely evening stroll into a running disaster... or, a summer barbeque into a bug buffet. To avoid this from happening many of us douse our children (and ourselves) with insect repellent. But, could the familiar spray soon be a thing of the past? A company that specializes in outdoor apparel seems to think so.

"Buzz Off" is a company that treats clothing for the military, and now for famous retailers like LL Bean and Tommy Hilfiger. They embed their products with Permethrin, a man-made version of a natural insect repellent found in some chrysanthemums, which eliminates the need for bug spray and DEET. Basically, the protection is on the clothes rather than on your skin.

Spokespeople for "Buzz Off" say the apparel "protects against insects that carry vector borne diseases such as Malaria, Lyme disease, West Nile disease, along with Yellow Fever, and Typhus." The treated clothing promises to maintain its effectiveness for at least 25 washings.

While the product has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, that isn't enough to convince some environmentalists that it is 100% safe. In fact, some naturalists have gone on record as saying, "the Permethrin coating can come off and be absorbed by the skin. It can cause skin irritation and eye irritation, and high does of Permethrin have also caused asthma and other affects." Toxicologists agree the chemical is toxic in high concentrations, but say the clothing doesn't contain enough to make people sick.

While there are no published studies on the effectiveness of the "Buzz Off" clothes, when used in the military, it did prove successful in protecting soldiers. And, be warned... even if you wear the "Buzz Off" apparel, you still need to apply insect repellent on uncovered skin.

Related Articles:

The "Mosquito Magnet"

Mosquitoes and Your Home--Fight the Bite

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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