Good News in Bug-Bite Protection

Summer Safety Update Dans Wellness Newsleter August 2015Are you concerned about exposure to the ingredients in some bug repellents?  Consumer Reports has good news.  Their recent tests found the more effective bug repellents were also among the safer choices.

For the first time ever in Consumer Reports’ tests, the top scorers (Sawyer Fisherman’s Formula and Repel Lemon Eucalyptus) out-performed products that contains up to 25% DEET, a chemical that can cause serious side effects.  The active ingredient behind Sawyer Fisherman’s Formula is 20% picaridin, and for Repel Lemon Eucalyptus it’s 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus.  Both products were able to keep mosquitoes and deer ticks away for at least seven hours.

“They are not side-effect-free, but those problems are less severe than DEET.  Still, all repellents should be used sparingly and only for the time you need them – especially on children and older people,” says Ellen Kunes, Consumer Reports’ heath and food content development team leader.

­-Source:  Consumer Reports