In case anyone prefers facts:

https://www.northlineexpress.com/media/pdf /thermacell-msds.pdf

"This pesticide is highly toxic to fish. Do not apply directly to water. Drift from treated areas may be hazardous to organisms in adjacent aquatic sites. HARMFUL IF INHALED...

Inhalation: Move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration, preferably by mouth-to-mouth if possible. Call a poison control center or doctor for further treatment advice. Have the product container or label with you when calling a poison control center or doctor, or going for treatment..."

Then there is this confusing little nugget:

"Respiratory protection: Not needed for normal use. This product is only for outdoor use."

Use at your own risk I would say.

Anything that kills or repels bugs is not safe to breath.

I think if it was that harmful, they wouldn't sell it. At a minimum, the device would be covered with warnings. When my wife was an army brat in Okinawa, her father would spray her room every night with army issue aerosol DDT. She still seems to be OK many decades later.

I will say that this is why you should think twice before recharging your own pads with permethrin. We don't really know how the "dose" of liquid compares with what the manufacturer uses. The pads are sold separately and saving a little money is not worth the risk IMO. - John

"I think if it was that harmful, they wouldn't sell it." How about cigarettes? If it makes money, it will be sold. It's my choice whether or not to use such substances, but my common sense says breathing insecticides isn't going to do me any good.

Neither will West Nile Virus, the Bird Flue, Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Malaria etc. etc. Its your choice, but it could be an important one. Choose your poison! - John

John SCARING me right OUT OF THE WOODS !!!!!!!!

DS

When I was a kid....I worked in a kitchen at a restaurant. One day, there was a NASTY rotten smell from a trashcan. One of the older guys running the kitchen said "If you can smell it, there's a piece of it in your nose!"

That wisdom has stuck with me :)

The reason I don't use my Thermacell is that the day I got it, I went and sat in my mosquito infested yard with a couple of other people and set the THermacell right in the middle of us. There was a light breeze. We were all instantly attacked by mosquitoes.

It has to be right on you with the vapors all up in your face or it does nothing for you.

A couple of shots of DEET strategically placed on my clothes (where I don't touch them) was instantly more effective.

>>>"It has to be right on you with the vapors all up in your face or it does nothing for you."<<<

JSD, that's not been my recent experience. I put the Thermacell behind the tree last week, with the slight thermals taking the light smoke away from me. The skeeters and gnats that were buzzing all around me left in about 6-7 minutes. I mean those jokers LEFT! The vapors were not even circling the tree towards me...I watched the light smoke/vapor to see where the wind thermals was taking it. Behind the tree and away from me. It still worked wonderfully.

My experience is that it does not work instantly but takes 5 or 6 minutes as said above. It does work. Mine has run out of fuel and it only takes a few minutes for the mosquitoes to start swarming you again.

Forewarned is forearmed. That's all I can say about those things. And if you think they wouldn't sell something if it was harmful, then I have some ocean front property here in Pa. to sell you. It happens all the time...everyday.

Everything can be harmful if not used properly or in moderation. Everything.

I wouldn't put one of the pads under my tongue but my Thermacell hanging on my hip has improved my hunting experience for years. Whether it's stalking groundhogs here in PA or feral hogs in SC the mosquitoes have left me alone.

I remember a fishing trip to Quebec with my father in law and his old buddies. First order of business after we left sight of their wives was to load up on cigars, pipes, and tobacco. "It's for the bugs" they told me. They smoked like chimneys the whole time we were there and didn't get bit. As a non smoker I was eaten alive! I sure wish Thermacell had been invented 35 years ago.

All the smoking paraphernalia went in the camp trash before we headed home. :)

Well, I think the amount of repellent,in the pads is so minimum and considering the open air it's used in I think it's pretty safe. The company would be so screwed improve they didn't have a warning label if it caused any bad effects. I think breathing in ozonics is far more dangerous than termacell.

I think the boilerplate on thermacell is typical modern legalese. In the same vein that all sporting equipment etc. sold in CA is proven harmful to the user.

It usually takes a few decades for pack a day smokers to succumb to cigs. That's hardcore regular inhalation 24/7/365. The inhalation of ThermaCell fumes isn't year around and heavy in that sense. That said I haven't used thermacell so no experience, mere opinion.

I do use straight 100% deet on occasion and am not concerned at all about having done so. If I applied a heavy coat daily that would be a different story. I'd be willing to bet there would be some kind of physical reaction before death throes ensue. lol That's the kind of tests these guys do when they form the boilerplate warnings. jmo ymmv.

When I was in my early 20's we'd get Tiparillos cigars when we'd go fishing and light them up to keep the bugs away. It worked but the Thermacell works a WHOLE lot better.

Place the thermacell upwind of youself. Give it time to work. The mosquitos find you by wind. Do not place it near your face.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I might use mine this weekend just for fun. I'm not overly afraid of it outdoors using the original pads. I just didn't like that it didn't work in my back yard.

It's a high of 89 here on opening weekend and mosquitoes are still out

I'll still have a little bottle of DEET in my pack

Justify it however you like, you likely won't know any different for a couple decades. I'll choose to use other methods, mostly nothing at all. You guys in your 30's, 40's and 50's still have a lot of life to go, so I only hope you're smart about it. Yeah, I'll bet the manufacturers have your best interest at heart too. Just be sensible and don't sit directly down wind from it.

Get this set! they are out of the gloves and socks but you can get on that bay in the sky-lol I use it in early season and do not have to spray anything-it works-not a gimick

$146.85 $99.95 ElimiTick Deep Woods Bundle / EDWB

If you cannot get ElimiTick gear then use Bio Shield spray https://www.bioshield-rx.com

Themacell provides transitory relief in mild cases. Use as directed. Use at your own risk.

WARNING: Don't vape thermacell. Not for use in bong. Don't store adjacent to rolling papers. Don't use as deodorant or for sanitary purpose. This product contain lead, a chemical known to cause cancer by the state of CA. Thermacell pads are not currency, do not carry in wallet or purse. Thermacell is not an effective sunscreen, do not apply directly to skin.

reminds me of the medicines to cure a headache but might cause a heart attack or blindness-haha!

God couldn't understand the boilerplate on new prescription drugs.

Fiero Fury

Elimitick isn't a gimmick...agreed. They are just poisoning your clothes with Permethrin. The fact that they say it doesn't wash out should worry you a little.

Just buy your own permethrin. You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars

Wearing permethrin treated gloves is BAD. There's no way that is ok I won't put it on shirts and definitely not on socks.

I'll treat the OUTER LOWER pants legs and boots. The back of a jacket.

If you want to soak your body in poison, go for it

Thermacells are like anything else. A little common sense goes a long way. Don't use it in a small enclosed space so that you are guaranteed to breath the fumes- just like you shouldn't inhale ANY smoke or chemical vapors.

I read a can of Deep Woods Off earlier. In big letters it said "WARNING: Harmful to humans." The fine print basically said dont drink it or spray it in your eyes. It didn't say "Dont breath the vapors", but that doesn't mean it's a good idea. Again, common sense.

If you don't like it or trust it, that's fine. I just think it is funny every time this comes there there are always "causes cancer, you will die" type replies. Just like the "micro fleece/polyester can catch fire" comments we always see in the Fleece versus Wool threads.

I don't know - maybe it's just old school versus less old school

the asbestos generation worrying about thermacells smh

The asbestos generation didn't have access to MSDS sheets, nor were they ever told of the dangers of asbestos. So how the hell does that have anything to due with using something you know can be dangerous? Use it however you like, and you can be as cocky as you want to be about it. Spending your golden years on a ventilator versus out hunting should be at the very least worth thinking about.

Fact is some of us try to get through to the few who will at least think about versus those being jackasses and making fun of folks who give a damn about others who use such things. If you don't think it will hurt you, then by all means use it. If our warnings make a few at least think about what they are doing, then that's good enough for me.

lol

The oracle has spoken.Try to hunt the South without a thermacell.Somehow you are an expert on all things even those you haven't used.Look in the mirror if you want to see a jackass.

Well if a flyingfish comes sailing by my Thermacell he better hold is breath.

I was a fireman for a lot of years and have been exposed to more than enough bad stuff to cause death later on. A lot of people choke to death on Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwich's too. I'm going to die from something one day, but I'm betting it won't be from a Thermacell or a PBJ. And if I get scared and give one up, it'll be the PBJ.

I won't go hunting this time of year with my ThermaCell. The consequences of not having it are getting eaten alive...may not be any consequences of having it on. I should be more concerned with the Copenhagen in my mouth to pass the time. We all gotta die of something...at least the damn skeeters won't be feasting on me while I'm alive!

I hate the thought of a mosquito bite as much as a tick bite.

Our archery deer season opened Sept.1. we had an unusually wet (for North Central Nebraska) amount of rain in August and September, you absolutely would not be bowhunting with a ThermaCELL or slathering on the bug dope! I grew up in the swamp in Wisconsin and have hunted Alaska, Canada, and many other areas - I know what mosquitoes are and probably tolerate them better than most, but I won't go out now without the ThermaCELL. I've had West Nile , it about killed me. While I can't get that again, there are other insect borne diseases that I don't need - I'll take my chances with the ThermaCELL. As to their usage, like someone said, set them by your feet or clip to your belt, give it tem minutes, and NO mosquitoes. Change the blue wafers when they start to fade or the insects come around.

MSDS sheets are there to provide you with information based on the worst of the worst if someone should inject a crap load of the stuff. Warnings are what they are, but act as a cover your butt for companies. Some people take it to the extreme when they read any warning. I'm middle ground on things like this. I try to avoid using things unless absolutely necessary and use caution and moderation when I do. I do agree that these chemicals are not beneficial to us, but the diseases that go along with the bugs can be much worse compared to the doses in these products. Just be cautious and use your head.

We purchased bright fluorescent safety t-shirts for all the field people at work. No embedded chemicals for ticks or mosquitos just plain safety shirts. No one in the office was wearing them. I asked around and some told me to look at the package. On the package was a sticker that said this product may contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer. So know one was wearing them because of this stupid warning where something may have been used in the process of making the shirts and California has this obscure bill that they need to warn people due to some legal crap. Baby clothes have these same warnings due to this bill.

I work in the environmental field and our risk-based standards can be way over exaggerated, but I can respect some of them. The standards are based on a 150 lb person injesting/inhaling, XX amount of something (usually way more than normal doses) for 365/24 for 70 years. Just use caution on how you use them, how you apply and only use them when absolutely needed.

I mean ingest instead of inject above, damn spell check and no edit option.

Tobywon

Yep...when I'm shopping for Glue, I always tell my son to look for the warning label "Known to the State of California to cause cancer"....that means it works!

But then we use the glue OUTSIDE

Anything is safer than years of being covered in Deep Woods Off.

Those shirts, like most other things, are only bad for you when you are in California. You are OK with them in the other 49 states.

For early season, we treat our outer layers with permethrin and keep a can of picaridin close. Picaridin is relatively new compared to DEET. Picaridin is odorless and will not destroy synthetics.

Insect Shield® Repellent Apparel and Gear are the most effective new tools launched in more than 50 years to help battle insects such as mosquitoes and ticks, some of which may carry diseases such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease. As with any breakthrough technology, you are going to have questions. So, we’ve got some answers…

What is Insect Shield? Insect Shield® Repellent Apparel and Insect Shield® Repellent Gear are revolutionary products designed to provide long- lasting, effective and convenient personal insect protection. The durable protection provided by Insect Shield apparel and gear is the result of years of research and testing. In July 2003, Insect Shield Repellent Apparel was registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accepted an amendment extending the durability claims of Insect Shield Repellent Apparel from 25 washes to 70 washes. The duration of the repellency is supported by experimental data. Insect Shield apparel and gear products combine the Insect Shield process with a proprietary formulation of the insect repellent permethrin resulting in effective insect protection that lasts the expected lifetime of a garment.

Is Insect Shield EPA-registered? Insect Shield Repellent Apparel is EPA registered. (Reg. No. 74843-2) Insect Shield Repellent Gear is EPA registered. (Reg. No. 74843-5)

What does EPA registration mean? The EPA registration process is designed to evaluate a proposed product to ensure it will not have adverse effects on people or the environment. Insect Shield products have been rigorously evaluated on multiple levels, the chemistry, the application process and the final consumer product.

Which insects does Insect Shield repel? Insect Shield® Repellent Apparel has been registered to repel mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges (no-see- ums). Insect Shield® Repellent Gear has been registered to repel mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and flies. The EPA requires extensive effectiveness data to prove a product's ability to repel insects. Many species and varieties of these insects have been tested, including many that can carry dangerous diseases. How much protection is provided by Insect Shield repellent apparel? A small item of Insect Shield clothing provides less repellency than a larger one. You may need to adjust the amount of Insect Shield apparel you wear, depending on the number of biting insects that are present. For example, you might prefer to wear pants instead of shorts in certain situations; long sleeves instead of short; or add a hat and socks. Topical repellent can be used for exposed skin, and is especially recommended for heavily infested locations.

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What are the benefits of Insect Shield vs. other forms of insect protection? Insect Shield Repellent Apparel puts insect repellency near your skin, instead of on it, and the protection is invisible. Also, the repellency is long lasting, so no re-application is needed. Is Insect Shield Responsible Insect Protection? The proprietary Insect Shield process is designed to prevent loss of active ingredient outside the system, and once applied, Insect Shield repellency is so tightly bound to fabric fibers that garments retain effective repellency through 70 launderings.

Why does the Insect Shield label say “dispose of in trash after use?” This indicates that Insect Shield products can be simply deposited in the trash and require no special disposal process. Eventually, the repellency becomes exhausted through wearing and laundering.

How do you care for Insect Shield products? For items that can be washed, normal home laundering is recommended. Insect Shield repellent apparel can be bleached, starched, pressed, etc., without effect on the repellent quality; however, it should not be dry-cleaned.

Why can't the products be dry-cleaned? Dry cleaning removes some of the active ingredient which reduces the insect repellent quality of the apparel.

Who recommends permethrin-treated apparel?

The following international agencies recommend insect- repellent apparel: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), www.cdc.gov/travel The World Health Organization (WHO), www.who.int National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lyme/ The American Academy of Family Physicians, http://www.familydoctor.org The Public Health Agency of Canada, www.phac-aspc.gc.ca Insect Shield represents a promising new approach to the longstanding problem of protection against both insects and the diseases they can carry. All of the above agencies actively encourage at-risk individuals to use permethrin- treated clothing as a protective measure against insect-borne diseases.

How did permethrin originate, and how is it used? Permethrin has been successfully used in the United States as an EPA-registered product since 1977, with an excellent safety record. Permethrin is used in lice shampoos for children, flea dips for dogs, and various other products, some of which are regulated by the FDA. The Insect Shield process uses a proprietary formulation of permethrin in a system, and the resulting repellency is so tightly bound to the fabric fibers of each garment that it lasts through 70 launderings. The process designed by our researchers specifically for creating Insect Shield products and the proprietary formulation that is used are quite different from permethrin- based technologies employed in other industries. How are permethrin-treated products being utilized to save lives? Millions of permethrin-treated bed nets are being distributed globally via malaria control programs. Insect Shield-treated uniforms are now being utilized by international relief organizations to help protect them in areas prone to insect- borne diseases. Research is also being done on the impact of future alternative Insect Shield products.

Just pick your poison or your amount of relief. No one is going to get out of this world alive. >>>----> Ken

I hope insect shield apparel is a sponsor here.

Certainly, folks won't change their minds about this, one way or the other, but, just pay attention to all the class action lawsuits on pharmaceuticals every year on things that were labeled safe to ingest..

The warnings tell you not to use indoors. When you are using a pop up blind the fumes are contained inside the blind. This is something to think about.

Just seventeen short years ago. Season opener draw hunt Dupuis Management area alongside Lake Okeechobee. Labor Day weekend. Standing water everywhere, no breeze. Sitting in my climbing stand waiting for sunrise. Every available area sprayed with Deep Woods Off and wearing a Bug Tamer Suit.

As daylight broke there was a literal cloud of mosquitos in front of my face. Of course they were hard to see for the sweat in my eyes.

If there is a hotter more miserable place to be I don't want to know about it.

I will not go back to that. Either my two Thermocells or stay home. I do not believe the sky is going to fall. And I was personally involved in the application of literally acres of asbestos felt to roofs in South Florida.

When did we collectively become such a bunch of wienies.....

Some still think the world is flat too.

Cancer has been around for thousands of years, but has flourished in the 20th century. That's all I'm gonna say about that. (In my best Forrest Gump voice)

I have been exposing myself to all sorts of harmful substances for 65 years. I see no reason to change that now. Okay maybe moderate it a little.

DDave

Al,

Our current natural lifespan is quite a bit longer than it was prior to the 20th century too. I'm sure in the 1700s and 1800s when someone died, the so called "doctors" of the time attributed it to "consumption," pneumonia or just called it "natural causes." Science is much better at detecting cancer these days than it was back then.

IMO, just worrying about stuff like this too much will shorten your life. It will certainly impact your quality of life. - John

"If there is a hotter more miserable place to be I don't want to know about it."

There's a place on the central TX coast that will give it a run for it's money.

What's more dangerous a thermocell or all the diseases that mosquitos can give you?

Only time will tell.

Agent Orange was ONLY an HERBICIDE.

Some folks will ride out cancer treatments while smoking a cigarette through a hole in their neck, Your life, your death.. Others like to be informed, and work from there.. Happy medium? Sure, usually found after weighing the odds.. That being said, I don't like spraying crap on me either, But I don't deal with the horrendous mosquitoe situations some of you do.. I would go with the protective clothing, netting etc..

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