DEET - WHY is it allowed???

[eventrider23]

Further to the post on here about FEI banned substances....I have just found out and don't know if anyone knew this, but DEET i.e. the fly repellant chemical found in NAF and a lot of other fly repellants once Citronella was banned under rules - is a psychotropic inducing drug if given in large doses!!!!

Also, from a breeding POV it should never be used on breeding stock I have also just discovered as it is proven in animal testing to be able to cross the placenta!
It is also found to be toxic to humans - especially young girls - causing toxic encephalopathy!

OK - so....under FEI rules....citronella is banned.....but an hallucinogenic chemical that can cause brain function degenration in humans IS allowed!!!!!!??? WTF!!!!!

 

[arwenplusone]

It isn't used in large doses, so I guess that is why it is cleared by FEI. Citronella I believe has been found to be carcinogenic.

 

[Donkeymad]

Citronella was originally utilised as a fly repellant when DEET became widely known for it's bad side effects. It did make me shrug my shoulders when they then banned Citronella to go back to DEET.

 

[eventrider23]

But surely it is no more of a 'toxic' substance than DEET would be surely??? The study I have been reading states that in the animal testing, neo-natal and embryo natal death rates were drastically increased, caused decreased brith weights and even once trials were stopped, traces of the chemical could still be found in the bodies for up to 3 months afterwards.

I started looking into it after my horses had a severe skin reaction to using it....according to the company that makes it, there were no known side effects, yet in published articles it clearly states that it can cause localised erythema (hair loss and skin irritation) and bullous dermatitis (blistering of the skin) which is what I was seeing in my horse.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

The only time I would use DEET on myself is if I was visiting a country where there is a problem with malaria. Even then I only use sparingly - Do not use near synthetic fabrics etc as it is highly corrosive and can give skin reactions etc. I had to use in Africa as there was no real alternative but in this country there are - certainly wouldn't put it near any of my animals as you can't be certain they will not ingest any after grooming etc. I have had the misfortune to inhale DEET - not something I would like to repeat.

 

[arwenplusone]

You have good point - and incidentally I don't use Deet on any of my animals (quite glad now too after reading your post)
Actually I use citronella!

 

[competitiondiva]

[ QUOTE ]
Further to the post on here about FEI banned substances....I have just found out and don't know if anyone knew this, but DEET i.e. the fly repellant chemical found in NAF and a lot of other fly repellants once Citronella was banned under rules - is a psychotropic inducing drug if given in large doses!!!!

Also, from a breeding POV it should never be used on breeding stock I have also just discovered as it is proven in animal testing to be able to cross the placenta!
It is also found to be toxic to humans - especially young girls - causing toxic encephalopathy!

OK - so....under FEI rules....citronella is banned.....but an hallucinogenic chemical that can cause brain function degenration in humans IS allowed!!!!!!??? WTF!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you just watch eleventh hour!!!!!!!! (living TV) featured this exact chemical and effects!!!

 

[rforsyth1984]

I use DEET products (Jungle formula) all the time - I'm allergic to horse fly and mosquito bites and I find it the most effective, and I use it on the ned as he has bad reactions to mosquito bites and it seems to be the most effective on him too.

 

[StinkiPinki]

One of my boys had a severe reaction to citronella... eg his skin burnt and flaked off!! Deet is the stuff they use in human insect repellents like Jungle formula and ive never had a problem with it, are you confusing it with ddt?

 

[eventrider23]

Competitiondiva - no I am not - how funny!!! LOL

StinkiPinki - nope not confused it at all with DDT....the above info can be found if you read through the actual study results for DEET.....just have to trawl through all the chemical jargon. I am considering doing a research project at some point and writing a paper and was researching a couple topics I was interested in and found out all of this!

 

[CrazyMare]

See my reply to you on the other thread.

 

[Nailed]

Just a point.. NAF actually do a product, its either sho shine or d-tangler with citronella in it!!
We use this as a fly spray sub when we havent had chance to make some up..
lOU X

 

[emma69]

In some countries you really have to use DEET, as the side effects of diseases transmitted by Mosquitos are worse. The FEI is international, so just because the Uk doesn't have issues with mozzies doesn't mean they should ban something that is crucial in other countries.

In Canada we have West Nile fever which is transmitted by mozzies, so we use DEET. It is nasty stuff but really the only viable option. We use it sensibly, only when needed, only on exposed skin (face, ankles, wrists) and at a concentration that is appropriate (low risk = low % deet, in infested area, deep wood formulas which are a higher %). West Nile and Malaria are more likely to cause nasty side effects or kill than DEET used correctly.

 

[SpottedCat]

QR: Eventrider23 I had exactly the same problem with the stuff containing DEET, wrote to the company concerned who were quite honestly rude and usless, although they did refund my money. They sent me a letter and emails explaining that I must be mistaken and there were no side effects and no-one else had reported any problems etc etc. I even did a patch test on my horse as I know it can be quite strong (I use Jungle formula on myself with no ill-effects) - and avoided sensitive areas as the manufacturer suggested. However my horse reacted on his back, and ended up with this patch which has now got white hair on it, much to my eternal annoyance, poor horse. I now will not use any products by that manufacturer because they showed such a blatent disregard for the problem that I do not fully trust any of their products now.

 

[kellyeaton]

deet causes liver problems in horses!

 

[kjpattingham]

God, allergies and reactions are funny things aren't they? I once heard of a little girl allergic water - makes you think! I guess the point I'm trying to make is that while the occassional horse or human might be sensitive to Deet, as they could be to anything - natural or chemical, that doesn't make it a fundamentally bad product. I don't know if you know but all fly repellents have to be registered with the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) Check out approved products on their website http://www.hse.gov.uk/index.htm . They only allow ingredients with extensive published safety dossiers - this is the reason citronella was banned, because a dossier couldn't be produced. If your fly repellent carries a HSE number then you're doing the best you can in terms of safety. If it doesn't - worry!
Personally I use Deet on myself and my horse, as I find it the most effective. It's certainly what any doctor will recommend when visiting midge / mozzy / malaria countries. Did anyone hear Dr Mark Porter on BBC2 this week? He was saying the only fly repellent really worth using was Deet! http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00l2j7j