Mosquito stuff.

Skyllz

Skyllz

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Anyone using this Thermacell stuff?

It's getting mighty crowded at the range this time of year...

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Camping/MosquitoRepellents/PRD~0593816P/ThermaCELL%252BCompact%252B%252BMosquito%252BRepellent%252BAppliance.jsp?locale=en

Thanks.
 
How does this thing work:

It tells you how it does not work:
-Odour and DEET-free; no candles, open flame, messy wax, or citronella smell
-Effective alternative to lotions and sprays which must be applied to the skin

So what does it do - if there is no deet involved, is it sending another chemical into the air?

I would buy several - if they work. I have never found citronella to work very great unless you are standing in the center of a circle of them .
 
From their website:

How It Works

ThermaCELL uses revolutionary, patented technology to dispense a small amount of repellent into the air over a long period of time. ThermaCELL is powered by a butane cartridge which provides the cordless, portable heat necessary to operate the device (batteries are not needed). It directs the heat to a metal grill. A mat saturated with Allethrin, a copy of a naturally occurring insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers, is placed on top of the metal grill. The heat generated by the butane cartridge vaporizes the repellent allowing it to rise into the air, creating a 15 x 15 ft (225 sq ft) “Mosquito-Free-Zone” in minutes. The repellent is very unpleasant to mosquitoes, but when used as directed, will not harm humans or pets.
 
The product advertisement says DEET free - that's fine but what else is in it. It kills mosquitoes in a desk size area around but there's got to be some chemical it produces when it's lit (supposed to be butane powered).

My question is "what else does it produce that could be potentially toxic to people or pets??"

Is it CSA or UL approved??:confused:
 
Thanks Dave
Sorry - I just read the above post - seems like it should be OK for humans.
 
PSE said:
The product advertisement says DEET free - that's fine but what else is in it. It kills mosquitoes in a desk size area around but there's got to be some chemical it produces when it's lit (supposed to be butane powered).

My question is "what else does it produce that could be potentially toxic to people or pets??"

Is it CSA or UL approved??:confused:
Click to expand...

It repels, does not kill.
 
About Allethrins from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allethrin):
The compounds have low toxicity for humans and birds, and are used in many household insecticides such as RAID as well as mosquito coils. They are however highly toxic to fish and bees. Insects subject to its exposure become paralyzed (nervous system effect) before dying.

So I guess don't use them around fish ponds or honey farms...

Despite the manufacturer stating that it repells, it seems that this chemical does actually kill mosquitos, but it also seems to be widely accepted as safe for humans.

The Illinois Deparment of Public Health says (http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/pyrethroid.htm):
USEPA has evaluated these chemicals for this use and they have been found to pose very little risk to human health and the environment when used according to label directions. Exposure to the spray may aggravate existing respiratory conditions or affect sensitive individuals. Pyrethroids that enter the body leave quickly, mainly in the urine, but also in feces and breath.

Persons who apply pyrethroids and are accidentally exposed to very large amounts of these chemicals may experience dizziness, headache, nausea and diarrhea. Children exposed to large amounts of pyrethroids would be expected to be affected in the same way as adults. Adverse health effects would not be expected when pyrethroids are used according to label directions.

There is no evidence that pyrethroids cause birth defects in humans or affect the ability of humans to have children. Pyrethroids do not cause cancer in people.
 
tain't but one way to repel skeeters; DEET, and not the pussy stuff they sell nowdays- you need the 95% stuff like what we had in nam- the stuff that eats plastic for breakfast- makes men out of children, and repels most folks for months on end
 
t-star said:
tain't but one way to repel skeeters; DEET, and not the pussy stuff they sell nowdays- you need the 95% stuff like what we had in nam- the stuff that eats plastic for breakfast- makes men out of children, and repels most folks for months on end
Click to expand...

I miss that stuff. I don't think they sell it anymore.
 
The PMRA (pest management regulatory agency) is the Canadian agancy that regulates pest control products. I have searched their website and do not see any info on this product. It has to be registered with them to be on sale so I guess I will keep looking. Perhaps it is not sold as a personal insect repellant since it is not applied to skin?

DEET is the only chemical the PMRA recommends for use on people. And contrary to some beliefs, less concentrated products repell just as well, it just needs to be reapplied again later in the day. And the high concentration stuff is not sold in Canada anymore anyway.
 
I was skeptical but took a thermacell out with me turkey hunting on the weekend. While setting up already had a cloud of mosquitos all around me, started the thermacell and it took 5 minutes but the cloud disappeared. Don't know if it actually killed any, but later on you could see mosquitoes outside the area kinda wanting to come closer but didn't.
 
mbbushman said:
They do in the States, I have one bottle that's labeled 100 % DEET, and another that's 60% :eek: I need to find some more one of these days, that stuff works!!
Click to expand...

I believe they changed the law last year, or so I was told last summer by a store clerk in the US when I went looking for some spray with a high concentration of Deet. I did find some old stock of a spray called "Ben's" with 98.11% Deet, works great and hardly has any smell. Also found a spray can of "Sportsmen max" with 40% Deet.

As for the Thermacell, I have not tried it, but I remember reading a thread last year on this, and many people said it was great as long as there was no wind.
 
phishstik said:
I was skeptical but took a thermacell out with me turkey hunting on the weekend. While setting up already had a cloud of mosquitos all around me, started the thermacell and it took 5 minutes but the cloud disappeared. Don't know if it actually killed any, but later on you could see mosquitoes outside the area kinda wanting to come closer but didn't.
Click to expand...

It doesnt kill them.

Its kinda funny. They bounce off the "barrier".
 
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