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`Why would you expose yourself to a carcinogen, even for a short amount of time?
I am sure that it has helped me keep the hitchhikers out of my home, but the treatment of my sleeping bag is what has kept me from being bitten. I did have one drop from the upper bunk in Pamplona, evading my permethrin measures. I squished him.Has anybody had good results (no bedbugs) by treating your backpack?
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Well, my wife got some kind of insect bite at a jungle wildlife lodge in Nepal. It would not heal, so she finally went to the dermatologist. It had turned into a form of skin cancer and the entire irritated area was promptly removed.
The health benefits of some carcinogens outweigh their risk.
Jungle in Nepal!
We're talking about Spain,-)
Why would you expose yourself to a carcinogen, even for a short amount of time?
It's hard to say if the chemical sprayed in the bag was the reason for not getting bitten or if you simply did not come in contact with them. Talk on the Camino is that the chinches we get are wild and collected intially when putting your bag down in the ground for a lunch break, potty break, photo break. And yes, from there from bedding and mattresses. Hence the spraying of the outised of the bag.Weighing the risks vs the benefits, I'm wondering if it's worth it. I'm undecided. Has anybody had good results (no bedbugs) by treating your backpack?
I would strongly disagree. The chances are quite high. I have encountered them on 2 out of 2 Caminos. Once we caught and examined a live specimen and the second time I had a very distinctive reaction.the chance you'll contact an albergue infected with bedbugs (and not beforehand be informed by other pilgrims) isn't that big.
I always treat pack, sleeping bag, and liner. I have walked eight Caminos and never had a bedbug bite despite being in albergues where others were bitten.
Did the treatment keep me safe?? Impossible to know..but I have absolutely no hesitation to continue to treat my gear every time.
The EPA report is clear that the danger is nearly non-existent.
Those who are strongly anti-chemical activists will no doubt continue to advise others to avoid treating gear.
Read the EPA articles and Canadian government reports and make your own decision.
Just be a bit cautious about internet articles that are posted by groups with an obvious agenda.
You are on shaky ground if you assume that what the Canadian military approves for its soldiers is any kind of guarantee of safety.The EPA and FDA do a decent job. Several lines of popular clothing are treated with permethrin. It is approved by the Canadian military for its soldiers. It has been shown to be effective, if not perfect, as an insecticide and repellent.
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/REDs/factsheets/permethrin_fs.htm
The EPA and FDA do a decent job. Several lines of popular clothing are treated with permethrin. It is approved by the Canadian military for its soldiers. It has been shown to be effective, if not perfect, as an insecticide and repellent.
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/REDs/factsheets/permethrin_fs.htm
Off topic warning! Diesel fuel is not a listed carcinogen, but diesel exhaust is. Slopping diesel fuel into your vehicle won't be an issue, but driving it afterwards will!I have advice that diesel is a Class 1 carcinogen
I did some quick calculations based on the NPIC technical fact sheet and the Sawyer product information page for their spray and it would appear that you would need to consume about 5kg of this product to achieve the lowest LD50 oral dose.Additionally, the Agency classified permethrin as “Likely to be Carcinogenic to Humans” by the oral route.
I did some quick calculations based on the NPIC technical fact sheet and the Sawyer product information page for their spray and it would appear that you would need to consume about 5kg of this product to achieve the lowest LD50 oral dose.
I couldn't find a risk level for permethrin as a carcinogen, and would be interested to know what you have been able to find out in your literature reviews.
I did note that IARC suggested in 2014 that further research should be a high priority following the release of the 2012 NCI Agricultural Health Study. That study identified five pesticides of interest - chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, fonofos, phorate and permethrin - in relation to increased incidences of prostrate cancer identified in the (quite large) study population, and permethrin may also be associated with increased incidences of multiple myeloma. Previously (1991) IARC had assigned it to Group 3 (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans).
It seems to me that regular exposure to permethrin and other insecticides in an agricultural setting is likely to be quite different to the sorts of exposure to consumer permethrin based products on the camino. I am not suggesting that one should ignore taking precautions when applying this product. Follow the directions, take care disposing of any waste and clean up properly. But the evidence that I have seen does not suggest to me that one should stop using it as part of other arrangements to prevent bed-bug bites.
I've just treated my sleep liner backpack and clothes with lifesystems ex 4 permethrin spray which I've had to bring inside and allow to dry in my hall (just outside my bedroom). Having to do that I Googled any hazards associated with permethrin and according to us epa it is a known carcinogen! Eek! Now I really am worried. Anyone here able to offer any perspective on this to help ease my anxiety?
Question for the members who chose to treat with permethrin, how much time in advance should I spray my stuffs? I suppose treating too early will cause it to lose its effect sooner. Thanks.
Because you are going to be on a trail for 6 months where bedbugs are rampant.Why would you expose yourself to a carcinogen, even for a short amount of time?
You would want to avoid this (and several other) line of clothes:My advice would be to avoid contact as much as possible with permethrin
Jungle in Nepal!
We're talking about Spain, and the chance you'll contact an albergue infected with bedbugs (and not beforehand be informed by other pilgrims) isn't that big. Yes, there is a chance.
But, as on issues like type of shoes, type of raingear, etc. it's each pilgrim's own decision.
My opinion is just another opinion ;-)
I sprayed my backpack, bedsheet and sleeping bag last night with the Sawyer permethrin pray. It says it is completely odorless, but in my opinion everything now reeks. Did you find this as well with your use of this product? It's been 14 hours and things still smell. I've got everything in the yard to air out, but worried this smell will stick around and give me headaches/make me sick. Any advice?I spray the OUTSIDE of my pack and the OUTSIDE of my sleeping bag about a week before I go.
I do not spray anything else.
LOL- I'm not the litigious type. Everything is definitely dry, but still smelly. I'll just leave it out in the yard for a few days to air out. Hope it fades.Sawyer state that their product is odourless when dry. https://sawyer.com/products/permethrin-premium-insect-repellent/ Depending on how thoroughly you wetted your gear, and also depending on local current humidity, your gear may not be dry.
You could always sue...
I sprayed my backpack, bedsheet and sleeping bag last night with the Sawyer permethrin pray. It says it is completely odorless, but in my opinion everything now reeks. Did you find this as well with your use of this product? It's been 14 hours and things still smell. I've got everything in the yard to air out, but worried this smell will stick around and give me headaches/make me sick. Any advice?
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