More than 60 different diseases, some of which are fatal, are spread by ticks, chiggers, insects and other biting arthropods. These include malaria, Dengue (Broken Bone) Fever, West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease and others. The Army Combat Uniform with factory Permethrin treatment can, when worn with other measures, provide over 90 percent bite protection even after 50 washings. This will help protect Soldiers against these diseases. The ACU with Permethrin will be issued to Soldiers serving in the continental United States and elsewhere.
Tags: ACU
and i am sure this was thoroughly tested in humans before being given the green light 😉 just one more chemical we are being bombarded with.
who knows what the long term exposure effects will be
We used it going into Haiti in 1994 and it wasn’t new then.
My permethrin-treated RailRiders Weatherpants get the job done in deer tick country. One of the best purchases I have ever made. http://flic.kr/p/c1bDS3
The exposure risks of permethrin are very well known – the stuff simply is not absorbed well through the skin. It has been used for decades to treat head and body lice, and scabies. It is a highly effective, extremely low risk solution to a serious problem – the only failure I can see is the Army’s failure to educate the troops – and especially the medics – of the risks and rewards.
It’s funny to me that so many are so scared of permethrin, yet will slather themselves with 100% DEET repellents – when the first is not at all absorbed while the second has measurable risk associated with it.
“It’s funny to me that so many are so scared of permethrin, yet will slather themselves with 100% DEET repellents – when the first is not at all absorbed while the second has measurable risk associated with it.”
It makes for a good solvent, though.