DoD Insect Repellent System

​​T​he Army/Air Force Advanced Combat Uniform (ACU-OCP), Flame Resistant Army Combat Uniform (FRACU), Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform (IHWCU), Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU), Marine Corps Tropical Combat Uniform (MCTCU), Marine Corps Flame Resistant Combat Ensemble (FRCE), and the Enhanced FRCE are factory-treated with permethrin or etofenprox. ​These uniforms are issued to service members​ and are available for purchase at Military Clothing Sales Stores. All factory-treated uniforms will have a sewn-in label indicating that the garment has been treated with insect repellent. New uniforms will also have a removable hang-tag attached that indicates the uniform is insect repellent-treated. Army Combat Shirts (ACS) and Army Combat Pants (ACP) are not currently factory-treated and cannot be treated using field treatment methods​​.​
       

The DoD’s policy is to provide the best protection for our service members’ health and well-being. By factory-treating uniforms with insect repellent, the DoD ​is providing a product that will enhance Force Health Protection and Readiness. The treated uniforms protect service members from insect and tick-borne diseases while in garrison, training, and non-combat deployed environments worldwide. Service members should continue to properly protect themselves against insect bites and diseases by wearing their uniform with sleeves rolled down, closing all openings in clothing that might let in insects, tucking pants into boots and undershirt into pants, and wearing loose-fitting uniforms​.​​​​​ ​        

​There are no known adverse health risks associated with wearing insect repellent-treated uniforms. Currently there are two insect repellent treatments that can be applied to uniforms in the factory, permethrin and etofenprox. Both permethrin and etofenprox are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered for use with a variety of applications including food/feed crops, livestock, Public Health mosquito abatement programs, pets, and clothing. Based upon the best science and studies performed to date, the EPA has determined that wearing or coming in contact with insect repellent-treated uniforms is unlikely to cause adverse health effects.        

Factory treatment of uniforms with insect repellents eliminates the need for service members ​to treat their own uniforms. The factory treatment uses special binders to ensure that enough repellent is retained in the uniform’s fabric to protect against mosquito, tick, fly, chigger, and midge bites for the lifetime of the uniform. Factory treatment guarantees that a safe and effective amount of repellent is precisely applied to each uniform. The guesswork about who is protected by a treated uniform is removed. Factory treatment eliminates the potential risk of increased exposure to service memb​ers ​applying concentrated liquid products to their uniforms. Factory treatment also eliminates environmental concerns associated with the use and disposal of field-applied products​.          

Insect repellent treated uniforms can be identified by checking the hangtags and reading the labels sewn into the coat and trousers. Both will indicate that the uniform has been factory-treated with insect repellent. Treated and untreated uniforms are identical on the outside. The insect repellent-treatment is invisible, odorless, colorless and does not change the feel of the uniform.​​ ​        

​Research has shown that the insect repellent-treated uniforms provide protection for the expected life of the uniform (50 washes). Bite protection is reduced with washing. Insect repellent-treated uniforms should be washed with a mild cold water detergent and dried on low heat. Do not use bleach, bleach alternatives, fabric softener, or starch. Do not dry clean or commercially hot press the uniform. Dry cleaning will significantly reduce the bite protection, fade the colors, and weaken the fibers of the uniform, causing it to wear out sooner. Do not apply additional permethrin or etofenprox to the insect repellent-treated uniforms; the original factory treatment provides protection for the expected lifetime of the uniform. ​​​       

The EPA label states insect repellent-treated civilian and military garments, whether individually or factory-treated, should be washed separately from other garments. However, recent studies have shown that only very tiny amounts of residue will transfer to other garments in the wash. The factory treatment process tightly bonds the insect repellent to the fibers of the uniform, which helps maintain the insect-repelling properties. service members should follow instructions on use and care lable of the uniform​​​.​​        

​As the only repellents that are EPA-registered to treat clothing, permethrin and etofenprox have earned an excellent safety record. The EPA concluded that all of the potential adverse health risks, including cancer and non-cancer risks, when wearing treated uniforms were below the Agency's level of concern (extremely low). Since 2003, well-known companies that market outdoor gear and clothing have offered permethrin-treated clothing for toddlers, children, and adults. ​The amount of insect repellent applied to the uniform does cause danger to humans and pets.​       

While there are no indications of adverse health effects to mother or child from permethrin or etofenprox-treated clothing, female service members that are pregnant, nursing, or trying to get pregnant are authorized to wear untreated uniforms or maternity uniforms. Service members must see their health care provider to obtain a medical profile exempting the wear of an insect repellent-treated uniform. For Army Soldiers, a medical profile allows the individual to special-order a non-treated uniform through the Army Military Clothing Sales Store prior to, or after, the wear of a non-treated maternity uniform.​​​        

The weight of evidence in the medical literature indicates that wearing an insect repellent-treated uniform is unlikely to cause skin sensitization, skin irritation, or other skin effects in humans. Factory treatment is superior to field treatment because the factory process strongly bonds the insect repellent onto the fibers of the uniform, which results in significantly less insect repellent coming into contact with a service member's skin. To prevent skin irritation, service members should wash new uniforms prior to wearing to remove any residual fabric finishes. Should skin irritation occur after washing the uniform, consult with a health care provider to address any concerns associated with wearing an insect repellent-treated uniform.        

​For additional information, contact the DoD Pesticide Hotline​​, phone: (​410-436-3773 / DSN 584-3773) ​or the Armed Forces Pest Management Board​​​, phone: 301-295-7476.​​​