Is permethrin safe when applied to clothing?
It is not possible to say that any chemical is “absolutely completely safe”. However, the general safety of permethrin as a clothing application has been reviewed and its use has been approved by regulatory agencies such as the US Environmental Protection Agency. It is recommended as a suitable method to reduce the chance of acquiring insect-transmitted diseases by some of the worlds most credible health authorities, including the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Health Canada’s Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel. If permethrin when applied to clothing is safe, why did I have to turn in my treated uniform when I got back to Canada? When DND asked Health Canada to consider approving the use of permethrin, Health Canada only assessed the safety and effectiveness of permethrin treatment of uniforms for deployments outside of Canada – this is why uniforms treated with the pouch system had to be turned in within 30 days of re
