DEET. Every hiker's best friend in the Maine woods at this time of year, right?

Maybe not.

According to the Extension Toxicology Network:

"Deet is the common name for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, a multipurpose insect repellent registered for direct application to human skin, clothing, household pets, tents and bedrolls and screens. Deet is a unique pesticide, because it is applied directly to the human body for purposes of repelling insects. It was developed and patented by the U. S. Army in 1946 for use by military personnel in insect-infested areas. Because Deet was recognized as one of the few products effective against mosquitoes and biting flies, it was registered for use by the general public in the U. S. in 1957."

Emphasis on for use by military personnel in insect-infested areas. Brought to you by the makers of napalm and other fun war stuff. Better living through chemistry and all that.

Check out the possible side effects of DEET use by humans, as reported by the Extension Toxicology Network:

"skin irritation, large painful blisters and permanent scarring of skin"

"rashes, irritation of skin and mucous membranes, and numb or burning sensations of the lips"

"generalized seizures"

"insomnia, mood disturbances and impaired cognitive function"

But here's the real kicker...

"Deet is absorbed promptly from the skin and distributed to all organs including the brain."

Oh goody.

Hmmm. Now that I think of it, that may explain a lot!

I've used various brand names of DEET bug repellants over the years, like Ben's 100 and Deep Woods Off. But I never liked using them. You just knew they couldn't be good for you. But there's nothing else available on the market that's anywhere near as effective.

Not a good trade off. Fewer bug bites vs. a slow poisoning by toxic chemicals.

Occasional use may be okay, but it still can't be healthy. And prolonged use is asking for trouble.

Years ago when I worked up north as a forester for the Maine Forest Service, we used to apply the stuff like cheap aftershave to combat the clouds of killer bugs. So it was no wonder that after a couple of months of heavy use I was nauseous and weak by the end of every work day. And I thought it was just all the beer we drank in Rangeley every night at Mike's Pub and Grub! Not so I guess.

But I continued to use it. Sparingly. And I know many of you use it too. I tried a citronella-based product--Natrapel--over the last few years. But other than smell nice, it doesn't work for squat.

So what to do?

Enter "micro-encapsulated DEET," a new twist on the bug repellent scene.

According to information from the Nim Distribution Center AB, "Many people feel a kind of hesitation in applicating chemical substances directly on the skin due to the risk of absorption into the body."

Now there's an understatement.

But, the news gets better.

"With the help of modern microtechnology, we can now offer a new generation of repellents quite safer for humans... microencapsulated DEET. The microcapsules which measure only some microns in diameter, are invisible to the naked eye, and consist of a core with the active substance and an outer shell surrounding the core. The shell being porous, it permits a constant and controlled release of the insecticide which guarantees a long repellency period at the same time it hinders the insecticide to be absorbed by the skin. Our microencapsulated DEET reduces dermal absorption by at least 90% compared to conventional "liquid on skin" application methods."

Sounds equally effective as the old DEET, but since it isn't readily absorbed into the skin, considerably less toxic. Good deal. I'm going to try and find some locally and give it a test drive, er, hike. I'll let you know how well it works.

This new generation of bug juice is marketed as Ultrathon by 3M and Sawyer Controlled Release DEET Lotion. Maybe you've already found it and tried it out. What's your opinion on it?

Inn the mEantime, i wAnt to assur yu taht I am suffFering No ill efffeCtTs of DeeT UsE ovvErr the yeers. Reellie!! I'm FiiiiNe...