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#179638 - 09/09/13 02:35 PM Skeeter repellent made from people?
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
This is very weird, but sign me up anyway. Also may explain why everybody else seems to attract fewer than you while camping.

Quote:
A naturally occurring substance found in human skin could yield a viable alternative to existing mosquito repellent, scientists say. They say the chemical could help render people "invisible" to the insects.

These chemical compounds, including 1-methylpiperzine, were found to completely block their sense of smell. The compounds could be added into many cosmetics and lotions, Dr Bernier added.

"If you put your hand in a cage of mosquitoes where we have released some of these inhibitors, almost all just sit on the back wall and don't even recognize that the hand is in there. We call that anosmia or hyposmia, the inability to sense smells or a reduced ability to sense smells."

Commenting on the work, James Logan of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said it was exciting to find out exactly which chemicals repelled mosquitoes.

"If a new repellent can be developed which is more effective, longer lasting and affordable, it would be of great benefit to travellers and people living in disease endemic countries," Dr Logan told BBC News.

But he said that it would take many years before a new product would make it to market.

--BBC

Cheers,
_________________________
--Rick

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#179840 - 09/23/13 08:00 PM Re: Skeeter repellent made from people? [Re: Rick_D]
jimmyb Offline
member

Registered: 09/16/13
Posts: 276
Very cool. As Im one of those that the little buggers love to tap into Im on board. But after trying a few so called safer alternatives to deet and getting eaten alive I am skeptical. I think the key word in the article was affordable.

Also IMO the US is developing an ever concerning problem with insect bourne diseases. With EEE, West Nile and of course Lime disease the prospects of a simple bug bite can be a bit scary. Better tech in repellants would certainly be welcome.

jimmyb

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#179841 - 09/23/13 08:07 PM Re: Skeeter repellent made from people? [Re: Rick_D]
aimless Online   content
Moderator

Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 3292
Loc: Portland, OR
They could market it as "Soylent DEET".

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#179844 - 09/23/13 09:01 PM Re: Skeeter repellent made from people? [Re: aimless]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Originally Posted By aimless
They could market it as "Soylent DEET".

grin
_________________________
--Rick

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#179845 - 09/23/13 09:09 PM Re: Skeeter repellent made from people? [Re: jimmyb]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Yup. I live in an active West Nile area and there's very little time in the year we don't have mosquitoes around.

I've become a big fan of permethryn-treated clothing in combination with DEET.

In other skeeter news, the Gates Foundation is on task, too.

Skeeter repellant research

Bzzzzz,
_________________________
--Rick

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#179851 - 09/24/13 01:32 AM Re: Skeeter repellent made from people? [Re: Rick_D]
balzaccom Online   content
member

Registered: 04/06/09
Posts: 2232
Loc: Napa, CA
I've also seen reports of a grapefruit sourced repellant that works really well. Makes we want to eat more grapefruit...
_________________________
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/

Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

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#179859 - 09/24/13 03:23 PM Re: Skeeter repellent made from people? [Re: balzaccom]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Just so long as we don't have to wear them. smile

Cheers,
_________________________
--Rick

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