Is DEET actually bad for You?
The EPA stresses that DEET is perfectly safe when used in accordance with the directions on the label. Incorrect application can lead to health issues such as skin irritation, disorientation, dizziness and, in extreme cases, seizures or death [source: ATSDR ]. You hear rumors that DEET causes cancer.
What is DEET spray and is it safe?
DEET (the chemical name is N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) is the most commonly used repellent, but there are many others. Repellents registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are proven to be safe and effective.
How dangerous is DEET?
There are a few things to keep in mind when considering reports to the contrary:
- The overall incidence of deet poisoning is very low. In 1998 the Environmental Protection Agency conducted a definitive assessment of the chemical. ...
- Most of those reported cases involved a misuse of deet products. ...
- A vast majority of cases of deet toxicity are mild. ...
- There is no reliable evidence that deet causes cancer. ...
What is DEET insect repellent?
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Is DEET harmful to humans?
The human health risk assessment concluded that there are no risks of concern because no toxic effects have been identified when used as a dermally applied insect repellent, and there is no dietary or occupational exposure for DEET.
Is DEET cancerous?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that DEET in not classifiable as a human carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has not classified DEET as to its carcinogenicity.
What type of chemical is DEET?
DEET is a chemical (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) used as the active ingredient in many insect repellent products. DEET was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946 and was registered for use by the general public in 1957. It is now widely used, with approximately 30% of the U.S. population using DEET repellents each year.
Why did they ban DEET?
DEET-related health problems include skin rashes and scarring in adults and, in a few cases, reports of neurological problems in children. A ban would affect products that are more than 30 percent DEET. New York is the first state to propose such a ban.
What is the safest insect repellent?
DEET is approved as a safe and effective insect repellent. The concentration of DEET in a product indicates how long the product will be effective—a higher concentration works for a longer time. For example, 10% DEET provides protection for about 2 hours, and 30% DEET protects for about 5 hours.
Why do mosquitoes hate DEET?
How does DEET work? DEET works to confuse and interfere with the receptors on a mosquito's antennae, which deters mosquitoes from landing on the skin and biting. These receptors are used to detect body heat, carbon dioxide and skin chemicals when seeking out prey.
How much DEET is toxic?
OralTOXICITY CLASSIFICATION - DEETAcute Oral LD50Up to and including 50 mg/kg (≤ 50 mg/kg)Greater than 5000 mg/kg (>5000 mg/kg)Inhalation LC50Up to and including 0.05 mg/L (≤0.05 mg/L)Greater than 2.0 mg/L (>2.0 mg/L)Dermal LD50Up to and including 200 mg/kg (≤200 mg/kg)Greater than 5000 mg/kg (>5000 mg/kg)4 more rows
Is DEET a neurotoxin?
The fact that DEET is toxic to the mosquito without measurable inhibition of AChE, in vitro, suggests that DEET imposes its neurotoxic effect in a manner other than AChE inhibition.
Is DEET the same as DDT?
DEET was first registered decades ago, in 1957, after first being developed by the U.S. Army in 1946 for use by military personnel in insect-infested areas. MYTH: DEET is the same as DDT. FACT: Nope! DEET is not DDT.
Why does DEET burn my skin?
Insect repellents (e.g. N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or DEET) applied to the skin can potentially interfere with sweat production and evaporation, thus increasing physiological strain during exercise-heat stress.
Is DEET legal in Europe?
The potential classification of DEET under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 could mean that insect repellent products containing more than 10% DEET can no longer be made available to the general public in the EU.
Is DEET illegal in Canada?
DEET is a registered active ingredient that has been approved by Health Canada for use by children and adults.
Use
- DEET (chemical name, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the active ingredient in many repellent products. It is widely used to repel biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks. Every year, an estimated one-third of the U.S. population use DEET to protect them from mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile Virus, the Zika virus or malaria and tick-borne il...
Products
- Products containing DEET currently are available to the public in a variety of liquids, lotions, sprays, and impregnated materials (e.g., towelettes, roll on). Formulations registered for direct application to human skin contain from 5 to 99% DEET. Except for a few veterinary uses, DEET is registered for use by consumers, and it is not used on food.
Function
- DEET is designed for direct application to peoples skin to repel insects. Rather than killing them, DEET works by making it hard for these biting bugs to smell us. After it was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946, DEET was registered for use by the general public in 1957. Approximately 120 products containing DEET are currently registered with EPA by about 30 different companies.
Health
- After completing a comprehensive re-assessment of DEET, we concluded that insect repellents containing DEET do not present a health concern. Consumers are advised to read and follow label directions when using any pesticide product, including insect repellents. Based on extensive toxicity testing, we believe that the normal use of DEET does not present a health concern to th…
Safety
- In 2014, we completed an interim review of DEET under the Registration Review Program to ensure that it continues to meet safety standards based on current scientific knowledge. The Agency has not identified any risks of concern to human health, non-target species or the environment. View this interim registration review decision (www.regulations.gov, docket numb…
Benefits
- DEET's most significant benefit is its ability to repel potentially disease-carrying insects and ticks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) receives more than 30,000 reports of Lyme disease (transmitted by deer ticks) and 80-100 reports of La Crosse encephalitis virus (transmitted by mosquitoes) annually. A total of 48 states and the District of Columbia have rep…
Risks
- Each of these diseases can cause serious health problems or even death in the case of encephalitis. Where these diseases are prevalent, the CDC recommends use of insect repellents when out-of-doors. Studies in EPAs database indicate that DEET repels ticks for about two to ten hours, and mosquitoes from two to twelve hours depending on the percentage of DEET in the pr…
Variations
- The following additional statements will appear on the labels of all aerosol and pump spray formulation labels:
Prevention
- EPA continues to believe that the normal use of DEET does not present a health concern to the general population, including children. As always, consumers are advised to read and follow label directions in using any pesticide product, including insect repellents. If you suspect that you or your child is having an adverse reaction to a DEET product, discontinue use of the product, was…