John Kulp wrote:
Alan S wrote:
-hh wrote:

DEET is a known carcinogen

It's not in humans.

Its a EPA Group D carcinogen, and its not that it can't be a human one
too, but through control of exposure, the issue is avoided.

See:
http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/library/...ticides_paper/
mr1018.8.ch5.html

The key phrase in the above URL is "[...] concluded that human
exposure to DEET was usually brief, and long-term exposure was not to
be expected."

In essence, there's enough evidence to suggest that it is also a
carcinogen in humans such that a controlled medical trial to prove the
link would be unethical...and in any country that signed the Helsinki
Accords...illegal.


*The US military uses it routinely and would certainly know if it was. *

They also know where the regulatory loopholes are. In any event, the
US Military is using a slow release 33% concentration version made by
3M, which is what I was referring to earlier.

BTW, (and for humans) it is categorized as a Toxicity Category III
(low acute); note that reported side effects include 'slurred speech',
which is kind of hard for an insect, dog or pig to report. FYI, I
still use DEET too, but do so with care and caution...and context.
For example, DEET doesn't do jack **** to stop Tzetze flies.


-hh