Sweep Permethrine-treated Bed Bug Encasements? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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Sweep Permethrine-treated Bed Bug Encasements?

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QueensBugGirl

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Jul 18 2011 16:39:30
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Has anyone used these yet? sweepkillsbedbugs.3dcartstores.com//sweep-aboutus.html

I just saw these at the store and figured it would be the best kind to buy but can't find any reviews online. Any feedback about these? I worry about my cats being exposed to the chemical on the encasements though it does say the product is safe for humans and pets...

Thanks!
EffeCi

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Jul 18 2011 16:57:08
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Permethrine is highly toxic for cats....
bed-bugscouk

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Jul 18 2011 17:07:43
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Hmmm this worries me:

The Sweep Bed Bug Project started more than 5 years ago and shares the same advanced fabric technology worn by the U.S. Military for protection against insect bites.

I have seen what happens when you google the term pesticides and gulf war syndrome and would not wish that on anyone. I believe this type of treated fabric features very heavily in the medical reviews findings.

I am not know as being a fan of encasements but this style hits two strikes for me.

David
Sweep VP Sales

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Jul 22 2011 8:37:40
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Dear Queens Girl,

The amount of permethrin used is 1/2 of 1% by weight of the fabric and takes 20 hot washings to remove. It is tightly bound to the cotton fabric and safe for children and pets.

The EPA has approved this product for the market and it carries No Warnings at all.
This is also the same technology used on golf shirts that repel mosquitos and mosquito repellant clothing children and adults wear visiting places that have high West Nile Virus issues.

Our products, approved and tested by the US EPA validate the safety and efficacy of our products.

They are safe and they work. Our products are in many hotel chains for this express reason.

Safe sleeping.
Koebner

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Jul 22 2011 9:42:11
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On a legal point, I wasn't aware that EPA approval validates the efficacy of a specific product.
Could you point me to the relevant EPA guidance on this issue?
Sweep VP Sales

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Jul 25 2011 11:17:19
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Dear Koebner,
The EPA validates specific product claims based on independent testing of each product.
Our products carry EPA registration numbers that supports a "kills bed bugs" claim.
All of our research, testing and data submissions for claims were executed by a top EPA approved Entomology lab that are the pre-eminent experts on bed bugs in the USA.
If you research our registration numbers through the EPA website, you will see all of our products listed aligned with the "kills bed bugs" claims.
Thank-you for your interest.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Jul 25 2011 13:42:00
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Hi Sweep VP Sales,

The labels (here) state that the product kills bed bugs which are in contact with the cover for at least 24 hours.

One of the questions in my mind is whether a bed bug will sit on the encasement for 24 hours. If they're not encased inside it, I am not sure why they would do that.

Have there been any studies in the field, as opposed to a lab (in which you can more or less force bed bugs to have contact with the fabric for a particular amount of time)?

Also, given that permethrin is said to be harmful to cats, is there a warning provided to consumers about this? I could not see one on the label.

Thanks!
Sweep VP Sales

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Jul 28 2011 12:22:00
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Dear No Bugs on Me,

The Sweep products do not require any warning labels for cats or children.

Permethrin is the same active ingredient as is used by the military for
their uniforms and by Buzz Off for outdoor wear. It is bound to the fabric
so firmly that even 20 or more washes will not remove all of it. The US
military are satisfied of the safety of permethrin. Several consumer
apparel producers (Buzz Off - apparel line) also market permethrin-treated
clothing at 0.52% for people of all ages. The resistance of
permethrin-treated clothing to loss through laundering is a strong indicator
that neither cats nor children will be able to extract harmful amounts by
sucking them. It seems doubtful that cats or children will suck bedding
fabrics, and if they do they will only be able to get small areas into their
mouths, or licked.

EPA's 2006 Registration Eligibility Document (RED) for permethrin notes
cases of cats being treated with 40-65% permethrin spot-on products
for dogs. These were cases of misuse of products intended for dogs. Cats
are more sensitive than dogs to most pyrethroid insecticide, not only to
permethrin. These products contain far more concentrated permethrin than
Sweep: 40-65% as compared with 0.52%. In addition, the permethrin in the
spot-on products was liquid and therefore in a far more bio-available form
than in the Sweep line of products.

Comparing spot-on products with treated bedding is not justifiable on
scientific ground.

Best regards.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Jul 28 2011 13:33:37
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Hi Sweep Away VP,

Thank you for addressing the cat question. I am fully aware that cats are sensitive to pyrethroid insecticides in general, which is why I brought up the question (which I see was a concern for EffeCi and the original poster above too).

Applying a permethrin spot treatment for dogs to a cat is not something that should ever be done, and that was not a comparison I was implying. I am also not concerned about a cat sucking the encasement, but lying on it.

A vet told me cats should not be allowed in areas treated with permethrin, nor to allow them near dogs treated with spot treatments of permethrin, at least for a day or so. This is why I was concerned.

I hope you might also consider addressing these questions from my prior post?

One of the questions in my mind is whether a bed bug will sit on the encasement for 24 hours. If they're not encased inside it, I am not sure why they would do that.

Have there been any studies in the field, as opposed to a lab (in which you can more or less force bed bugs to have contact with the fabric for a particular amount of time)?

I realize it's frustrating to you to be asked questions about the product, but that's kind of how the forums work.

Please keep in mind that those of us posting in this thread so far do not have an interest in this product being successful or not. We are not trying to give you a hard time. We are just concerned that consumers have access to products which really work as stated -- outside of a lab setting -- and which do not potentially cause harm.