The area that we're camped in at the moment has quite a few flies & mozzies.
Yesterday Judy sprayed her legs & arms etc. with Select brand Personal Insect Repellent. The first time we've bought that brand.
She had nail polish on her fingernails & toenails.
After spraying herself she suddenly noticed that all the nail polish had smudged & melted like it does when she uses nail polish remover.
What the heck is in this stuff & what is it doing to us when it gets into the pores of our skin?
Makes you think doesn't it?
Could be good as an industrial paint stripper maybe?
When I was at sea in the 60's we used to get "MN Board of Trade" mozzie repellent issued to us. The warning on the label said keep away from contact with Glasses (spectacles) and any plastics. I applied some on my hands and arms one day, then took my sunglasses off to put some on my face and neck. Having done that I noticed Black stuff on my thumb and forefinger. It was where I had grabbed the sunglasses. There was fingerprints embedded in the Arm of the sunglasses where I had placed my Thumb and forefinger.
This was potent stuff for Plastics, but we still got bitten by Mozzies.
Try a product called OFF comes in a pressure pack, it is quite pleasant to use and seems to be effective I don't know if it reacts with plastics.
Cheers
David
Hi DD, a few years ago when living in Mozambique I used an insect repellent that contained a high percentage of DEET due to the extreme risk of contracting malaria. After a few weeks I noticed that the plating and crystal on my watch had been eaten. Later I found out that DEET is actually a solvent that can attack certain materials such as watch crystals, plastics, fabrics etc. the higher the concentration in the product the more the risk. I believe that the every day repellents for normal use will usually contain around 20% or 30% DEET, the ones recommended for young children only around 10%. Check on the label maybe it's tropical strength and has a higher % than what the other ones you have used in the past have had.
had trouble with the car interior armrest betwwen the seats with it peeling it was suggested that it was either sunscreen or insect replelant from our arms
Ventranquilla - that's exactly the one that we were using in Mozambique.....we took a few bottles with us after the Dr at the vaccination centre recommended it based on where we were heading.
I'm no chemist but I'll take a guess it's the ethanol which is upsetting the nail varnish - btw have you checked what the dangers are from skin ingress of the chemicals in the nail varnish!? That's just one of the reasons I don't wear it.
And the MSDS does mention DEET is known to soften plastics.
__________________
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
"OFF" in a hand pump container.
Spray on hands. and wipe on face\arms\legs.
Is THE best thing for Sand Fiies. Midgies.
Not so good for our mossies up here.
Used it for over 10 yrs with the Canoes on beach.
Otherwise you get physically eaten.
For Mossies.
There's only ONE thing I've found that does them. Sth America. Egypt. Thailand.
US, Our Northern forests, Darwin etc.
it's called "REPEL 100" ..98.11% DEET..
I bring it back from the States in my case.
Hand pump. 2\3 pumps on hands. rub together. Wipe wherever.
NOTHING comes near for hrs. (cont says 10 hrs. I can believe it)
Even if you in wet.
OH, And I have Titanium glasses frames. sweet as.
NONE of these modern "civilised" things work,
thanks to the Greenies and their mates.
Go back to '60's\'70's.
New house. Ground (Footings) spray
ONCE,................every 25 yrs. and it lasted.
Nowadays. Every 12 months. and I pay him to give double the dosage.
Everything is waaaaay watered down nowadays in this country.
Overseas still mainly fine.
I'm no chemist but I'll take a guess it's the ethanol which is upsetting the nail varnish - btw have you checked what the dangers are from skin ingress of the chemicals in the nail varnish!? That's just one of the reasons I don't wear it.
And the MSDS does mention DEET is known to soften plastics.
Maybe Mike you are correct but look up DEET in the Wikipedia there are suspected cases of it causing major health issues such as seizures and even death although it's extremely rare (1/100,000,000 so you would probably have a far greater chance of being hit by lightning). It says that it is a solvent and may dissolve plastics, watch crystal, nail polish, paint, varnish and other materials.
Anything that will stop you getting bitten is a blessing. Just stop your whinging and use it. Why you may ask? It is simple, I have Ross River Fever! I have never felt like crap for so long. So stop your useless whining, spray the stuff and if you need a new bauble or trinket, buy it after the event. Believe me, if it dissolves plastic, it will stop you getting this virus!
Lancelot I'm sorry that you suffer with Ross River Fever and I hope that you eventually shake it off, the message here wasn't supposed to be about not using repellents it was to answer the OP as to why a particular brand could be having an effect on things like nail polish.
Don't kid yourself that using repellents by themselves will stop you getting bitten it will only reduce your risk, as I said in my earlier post I lived in a country where disease was rife especially the world's biggest killer malaria. Using a strong repellent was only one precaution, we took others i.e. avoiding being outside at certain times (dusk/dawn) , wearing protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants, screening the house & sleeping under a bed net - most importantly taking anti malarial drugs. As the climate warms don't be surprised if in future we need to take similar precautions and not just in the tropics but a lot further south - we probably should be already (minus the anti malarial drugs).
Just a few comments. "Off" is a waste of money in Townsville. The best is Bushmans, followed by Tropic Strength Aerogard, followed by Rid & then the homemade concoction of metho, baby oil & citronella. All of the mentioned commercial brands will melt plastics.
As there is some humour in the earlier posts, the PMG used to issue a "Personal Insect Repellant" in the late 60s, early 70s. We had it at Radio Australia in Darwin & found it was great for killing red-backed spiders. They would instantly turn up their legs & die. The daddy-longlegs spiders were different - when sprayed, they would race around the transmitter vaults & find a new place to build their web. Was it effective as a repellent, I don't recall using it for that purpose as we saw what happened to the red-backs!
Anything is better than nothing if it protects you from RRF or Dengue - just use in moderation.
__________________
Warren
----------------
If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
I am also plagued by mozzies - itchy as all get-up after a bite! Rotten things!! :(
I've tried pretty much everything suggested (I'm chocka-block with sprays and gels of OFF, Bushmans and Aeroguard!). None really work imo.
I recently read that mozzies are, amongst other things, attracted to people with high levels of bacteria on their skin! Eek!
So, an *extra* long shower... followed by basically lathering myself with that clear antibacterial hand-wash stuff! Did it work? Nup!! lol Joost thought I'd share! haha!
-- Edited by NannyJam on Thursday 23rd of March 2017 01:53:32 PM
Anything that will stop you getting bitten is a blessing. Just stop your whinging and use it. Why you may ask? It is simple, I have Ross River Fever! I have never felt like crap for so long. So stop your useless whining, spray the stuff and if you need a new bauble or trinket, buy it after the event. Believe me, if it dissolves plastic, it will stop you getting this virus!
I feel sorry for you LL.
I has Ross River a few years ago. Had it for 14 months. B###### of a thing.
__________________
Nappies and Politicians should be changed often . For the same reason .
Nail polish remover is basically Acetone, so I guess that's what's in a lot these so called repellants...I just make up a solution of 3 parts moisturiser and 1 part detox and that keeps the midgies and sandies at bay, not only that, it's good for the skin. I have never been bothered by Mozzies either but the tropical variety hasn't been tested, still I'll stick my potion up north until it fails the 'field test'.
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 24th of March 2017 02:39:54 PM