STOP using chemical insert repellent, read a story from The Standard below and stop using chemical insect repellent!
Moms-to-be warned of insect repellent danger
ThomasYau
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Pregnant women have been warned about using mosquito repellents which contain a chemical called DEET after a new study suggested it may cause birth defects.
DEET is used in repellents because it disrupts and disables insects' sensory organs.
Family doctor Kun Ka-yan, who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, issued the warning in the wake of a report in Britain's Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
It told of a mother-to-be who used a product containing the chemical and gave birth to a baby boy with deformed genitals.
Other birth defects include hearing loss, weak muscles and congenital heart disease.
However, these are observational studies, and a causal relationship between DEET and human birth defects has not been established, Kun said.
DEET may also be found in cord blood of babies of some mothers who used it, he said, citing a Canadian study.
Meanwhile, a local study in May advised by Polytechnic University biologist Yu Hoi-fu shows
DEET can cause cell deaths, Yu said.
Pharmacist Cheung Tak-wing said the public should try to use an alternative comprising a chemical extracted from wild tomatoes.
Cheung also blamed some manufacturers for not putting clear warnings on products and misleading consumers.
Several brands do not warn women of potential harm to their fetus.
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The story can also be found here:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=99161&sid=28517993&con_type=1&d_str=20100609&fc=4
