Environmental ArticlesIn
De-Nile? I remember when I was a child, I used to love taking walks outdoors in beautiful settings with my younger sister. It was so great having her along on these little nature hikes. The mosquitos liked her a lot better than they liked me, and when we got home, she'd be covered in nasty red welts, while I remained relatively bite free. So I never really did have to worry about mosquito repellant. Or West NileVirus. Not back then. But with summer approaching I, like everyone else, have begun to contemplate strategies for dealing with the onslaught of deadly bugs. And my sister has put her foot down about the hiking. So, what remains? A plastic bubble á la John Travolta in The Boy in the Plastic Bubble? No, too hot. Should I move to Calgary where I can stay indoors, moving through their city-wide glass corridors forever? No, too urban. Luckily, the Grey Bruce Health Unit and American Mosquito Control Association have provided guidelines for "Battling the West Nile Virus." The number one recommendation is the use of the pesticide DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). On yourself, that is. When I consulted the Canada Health website, I breathed another sigh of relief as I realized that our government is, once again, there to protect us. If need be, I was told, they would employ widespread use of insecticides. It's ironic that, while some communities are waging battles against local pesticide use, we are told to go ahead and slather it on ourselves, and that if necessary, widespread spraying will take place to kill mosquito populations. At least we can be comforted in knowing that, according to Health Canada's website, we'll be warned if they decide to spray. So we can do what? Build bunkers? No, so we can, "take precautions to avoid unneccessary exposure." On the other hand, we're assured that insecticide and pesticide use in Canada is strictly controlled, regulated and safe. So why do we have to avoid unnecessary exposure? And how serious is the threat of West Nile Virus? Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website says that,
"The West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause
encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)." What it does not
tell us is that this is a rare and extreme reaction. In Canada, according to Jim Patton of the Grey Bruce Health Unit, since 1999, about 11 or 12 people have died, again, most of them elderly. While it is tragic that anyone has died from this disease, the fact is that we are all more vulnerable to illnesses in our advancing years, and more of us are reaching those advancing years. Wouldn't it be better to focus our efforts on bolstering our immunity so we don't get sick in the first place? We all want protection from infected mosquitos, but DEET might not be the answer. According to many sources, including The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, DEET can cause skin reactions such as redness, irritation, burning and dermatitis. Up to 56 percent of it is absorbed through the skin and goes into the bloodstream. This can result in systemic toxicity, may affect the central nervous system, and can create a whole host of nasty ongoing side effects, especially if it's used repeatedly (like all summer, for example?). So what about non-chemical solutions? Sure, bug jackets may make you look like Hannibal Lecter behind bars in The Silence of the Lambs, but that may be preferrable to dabbing "Eau-de-Pesticide" behind your ears. The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health warns us that even those who aren't sensitive to the chemical should use it only lightly, and wash it off as soon as they're back indoors (versus just taking off the jacket). Some suggest spraying your clothing instead of wearing the stuff. Unfortunately, though, DEET can damage spandex, rayon and acetate, as well as the plastic in sunglasses and vinyl car seats, according to the Journal report. So let me get this straight. My number one strategy is to apply something that damages vinyl car seats directly to my skin so that I can avoid possible contact with an insect that may or may not be infected with a virus that may make me sick with mild symptoms and - in the rarest of instances (one percent) -might kill me (especially if I'm already sick or I suddenly turn elderly)? Spraying myself with a noxious chemical seems about as sensible to me as having chemotherapy when I'm not sick. Won't this just tax my immune system further, rendering me even more vulnerable to attack? Maybe the adage, "Don't fix it if it ain't broke" is applicable here. It seems to me that, at least according to the statistics, death by cigarette smoke, heart disease, car accident or cancer is far, far likelier for most of us than death by WNV. But just to be on the safe side, maybe this summer I'll turn over a new leaf (or, rather, stop turning over leaves) and abandon my hiking, swimming and outdoor activity and take up couch potatoe-dom. I'm afraid of bears anyway.
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