In Reply to: What do u use instead Rex? (nt) posted by chickchili on Sunday, 8. January 2006 at 15:00 Bali Time:
For about the last 40 years, I have been using a water based flyspray called Swipe-a-Fly. I buy it locally from a friend [in the Perth southern suburbs] and also know someone who sells it in Kalgoorlie. I take it to Bali and anywhere else I travel. It is very economical and appears to be less unpleasant to use than many popular insecticides. But I have checked out the ingredients on the internet and would put it on my clothes, but not on my skin. In many ways, we're over a barrel, aren't we?
I grew up in a part of England which had far more mossies in the summer than anywhere else I have ever been and as a young boy used to get eaten alive. Then when I was about 13, I suddenly seemed to stop being bitten. I assumed that I must have built up an immunity and as a consequence in the 43 years I have been in Australia I have become accustomed to not worrying too much about it.
But I live in an area where we get warnings each year about mossies carrying Ross River Fever, so maybe it's about time I did some serious thinking.
Dr Mercola's website seems to have a number of suggestions, at least some of which are available in Australia, so maybe that's our best option at this stage. I'd certainly prefer to use a [hopefully] harmless product more frequently, rather than put a long lasting known toxin on my skin.
I have an acquaintance in Perth who is a highly qualified environmental toxicologist and he has written books on various chemicals which he suggests we avoid putting on our skin. I'll see if I can contact him and get his opinion.