Chemical-free mosquito repellents are effective and available, but very difficult to find at stores on Long Island, according to a survey of local businesses conducted by The Sustainability Institute at Molloy College.
“Many families seek protection from mosquitoes without having to worry about exposing themselves to harmful chemicals,” says Neal Lewis, Executive Director of the Sustainability Institute. “Unfortunately, our survey finds that the option of natural and effective alternatives to chemical repellents are very hard to find at Long Island stores. We are calling upton LI stores to do a better job of making the family-safe alternative recommended by the CDC more widely available on their store shelves.”
The federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the natural ingredient Lemon Eucalyptus as an effective personal mosquito repellent. Several products contain this ingredient including Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus and Kiss My Face Swy Flotter.
Stores that have an alternative personal repellent stocked include:
Bay Shore–Target
Centereach–Walmart
Commack South–Target
Copiague–Target
Farmingdale–Target, Ace Hardware
Hampton Bays–Wild By Nature
Levittown–Target
Massapequa–Ace Hardware
Manhasset–Whole Foods
Nesconset–Ace Hardware
Port Washington–Ace Hardware
Riverhead–Target
Rockville Centre–Ace Hardware
Sag Harbor–Provisions
South Setauket–Target
Southampton–Second Nature
Valley Stream–Target, Walmart
Nurseries and lawn/garden care stores stocking, garlic-based insect repellents for large areas include:
Bridgehampton–Marders
East Meadow–Cipriano’s Nursery
East Norwich–Martin Viette
Freeport–Atlantic Nurseries
Greenlawn–Paul’s Nursery
Jericho–Greener Country
Nesconset–Olsen’s Nursery
North Babylon–Stables
Oyster Bay–Dodds & Eder
Port Washington–Bayles Garden Center
Riverhead–Talmage Farm Agway
Sag Harbor–Garden Center
Southampton–Lynch’s Garden Center
Southold–Chicks Agway
Westbury–Hicks Nurseries
A copy of the report, fully survey results and additional information regarding the report is available at si.molloy.edu.
