And what are some non-toxic alternatives for keeping mosquitoes at bay? DEET is commonly known as the king of mosquito repellents, though not everyone is keen to slather it on their skin. A study conducted in the late s on Everglades National Park employees to determine the effects of DEET found that a full one-quarter of the subjects studied experienced negative health effects that they blamed on exposure to the chemical. Effects included rashes, skin irritation, numb or burning lips, nausea, headaches, dizziness and difficulty concentrating.
Duke University pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia, in studies on rats, found that frequent and prolonged DEET exposure led to diffuse brain cell death and behavioral changes, and concluded that humans should stay away from products containing it.
But other studies have shown that while a few people have sensitivity to DEET applications, most are unaffected when they use DEET products on a sporadic basis according to the instructions on the label. The upside of DEET is that it is very effective. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that DEET-based repellents provided the most complete and longest lasting protection against mosquitoes. Other research indicates that contrary to conventional wisdom, children are no more susceptible to deet toxicity than adults.
For example, the study that analyzed 20, poison control center calls between and found that infants and children actually accounted for a greater proportion of cases with no or moderate effects, while adults accounted for a greater proportion of the cases with moderate and major effects. For example, at least one study found that when pregnant rats were exposed to high doses of deet, their offspring had low birth weights.
At least three women who used deet during pregnancy gave birth to babies with severe birth defects, and at least one of those babies died. But there are some important caveats to keep in mind when considering that information. First, the dose the rodents received was much higher than any normal human dose, and those findings about low birth weight were not replicated in other rat studies.
In fact, similar animal studies found no effects from deet on pregnancy. Two separate studies—one in New Jersey women and one in Thailand women —found that while deet molecules can cross the placenta and enter the womb, they do so in very small concentrations. In both studies, babies born to mothers who used deet were not smaller or sicker and did not suffer from cognitive deficits or any major birth defects compared with babies born to mothers who did not use the chemical. For the most part, yes.
But according to the CDC, the chemical is broken down by sunlight and by other chemicals in the air. In 5 hours time, one-half of the deet released into the atmosphere will disappear this way. The deet on your skin is most likely to end up in aquatic systems, because when you shower, bathe, or wash your clothing, the chemical slips from your skin and clothing into the water supply. In water, deet is degraded by aerobic microorganisms. In general, it does not stay in the environment for very long.
As with all insect repellents, the key to using deet-based products safely is to follow product instructions and take basic precautions:. Use the right concentration. Research shows that the concentration of active ingredient has an impact on how long the compound lasts, not on how well it works. Our testing indicates that products containing 25 to 30 percent deet typically provide at least several hours of protection.
Any more than that and you're increasing your exposure without improving the repellency. Apply the repellent properly. Instead, spray it on your hands, then rub it on your face. Also, repellent should be applied only to exposed skin, not to skin that will be covered by clothing. The best way to do that is to spray the clothing on a hanger and let it dry before putting the clothes on. And just to be safe, you should wash the repellent off your skin when you come back indoors for the day or at the very least before bedtime.
The following additional statements will appear on the labels of all aerosol and pump spray formulation labels:. DEET is approved for use on children with no age restriction. There is no restriction on the percentage of DEET in the product for use on children, since data do not show any difference in effects between young animals and adult animals in tests done for product registration.
EPA continues to believe that the normal use of DEET does not present a health concern to the general population, including children. If you suspect that you or your child is having an adverse reaction to a DEET product, discontinue use of the product, wash treated skin, and call your local poison control center or physician for help. If you go to a doctor, take the repellent container with you. Skip to main content. Contact Us. On this page :.
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