James R Coker

Safety Aspects and Cost Analysis Associated with the Factory-Insecticide, Permethrin Treatment, of the Airman Battle Uniform James R Coker

Publisher Marketing: It is imperative for Air Force leaders to procure factory-treated, permethrin combat uniforms to protect Airmen in both deployed and in stateside field training from the dangers of arthropod-borne disease. The operational mission of the AF has increased significantly over the last few decades, exposing Airmen to arthropod-borne disease risks throughout the world. Current arthropod-borne disease countermeasures are useful but may not offer complete protection due to a variety of concerns. Permetherin is the most efficient clothing insect repellent available for military and commercial use. Factory treatment of military uniforms with permethrin has become a valuable force health protection measure adopted by the United States Marine Corps (USMC), the United States Army (USA) for cadets at West Point and is currently awaiting approval for the remainder of USA combat uniforms. Treatment of clothing with permetherin at the factory level has been approved by the EPA, and the National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Toxicology concluded that factory-treated uniforms are safe for long-term wear. Factory-treated permetherin uniforms effectively repel or kill all major arthropod-disease carriers even after washing the uniform up to 100 times. The cost benefits of procuring factory-treated permethrin uniforms have been proven to be as high as 64:1 in USMC cost analyses, and the benefits associated with decreased psychological and physical stressors, reduction or prevention of permanent scarring, and possibly death from certain arthropod-borne diseases are immeasurable. Weighing these factors, AF leaders must recognize the crucial role that the factory-treated, permethrin ABU plays in protecting Airmen from arthropod-borne disease. AF leaders must act now to adopt and secure these uniforms to protect all Airmen from the dangers that arthropod-borne diseases present.