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'DEET burns my spandex,' Eco-Challengers say

The pesticide DEET was being applied in copious amounts Sunday by spandex-clad athletes as the 2003 Eco-Challenge North American Championship got underway. But insect repellent manufacturers say it's not necessarily a good idea. For example, S. C.
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The pesticide DEET was being applied in copious amounts Sunday by spandex-clad athletes as the 2003 Eco-Challenge North American Championship got underway.

But insect repellent manufacturers say it's not necessarily a good idea.

For example, S. C. Johnson, the manufacturer of Deep Woods OFF! and other DEET-containing repellents, warned that: "You should avoid spraying OFF!® insect repellents on acetate, rayon, spandex, or other synthetic fabric."

Some athletes interviewed by SooToday.com at the Eco-Challenge starting line expressed complete ignorance of the dangers of mixing DEET and spandex.

Others were aware of the risk of damaging fabric but chose to ignore it in the interest of competing free from insects.

"I once got Deep Woods OFF! on my bike shorts," said Paige Tiberio of Team Monsanto.

"Wherever the spray came directly in contact with the fabric, it burned right through," Tiberio said.

"You could see skin right through the fabric," she said.

Another member of Team Monsanto, Russ Gardner, said that he once picked up his cellular phone while his hand was still wet with DEET and ended up leaving permanent fingerprints embedded in the phone's plastic.

Many of the eco-athletes were nonetheless concerned about exposure to insects, particularly deerflies, and choose to take their chances with deteriorating clothes.


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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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