DEET is a documented neurotoxin, meaning it can negatively impact the nervous system. When mixed with permethrin, another pesticide, animal studies show the mixture can cause the death of neurons in the brain and disease in the offspring of exposed adults.
2.4. Neurological Effects. All of the reported cases of acute oral intoxication with insect repellents containing DEET reported adverse neurological effects in the patients described by some as toxic encephalopathy.
DEET is a widely used repellent that deters pests by making it harder for them to smell humans. Despite being effective, it has faced controversy over potential health and environmental impacts, including skin irritation and toxicity concerns. Some countries have even banned DEET due to these risks.
Researchers have not found any evidence that DEET causes cancer in animals or humans. DEET has been classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) as "not classifiable as a human carcinogen", which means that there is not enough evidence to say that it does or does not cause cancer.
Adverse effects
DEET can irritate the eyes and, unlike icaridin, it can cause breathing difficulty, headaches, or, in rare cases, it may cause severe epidermal reactions. The authors of a 2002 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine wrote: ...
If used improperly, such as if someone swallows it or applies too much, DEET can cause severe health effects like seizures, low blood pressure, uncoordinated movements or death, Dr. Kennedy said. But those cases are rare — seizures, for example, occur only once in every 100 million uses, according to the E.P.A.
Products containing DEET are typically very low risk when people use them correctly. DEET can cause skin irritation in some people, but this is rare. Some people who have used high strength DEET or had exposure to DEET over a long period have experienced adverse effects. DEET is also toxic if ingested.
DEET has been classified as a Group D carcinogen (not classifiable as a human carcinogen.) Although DEET's use has been implicated in seizures among children, the Agency believes that the incident data are insufficient to establish DEET as the cause of the reported effects.
DEET is a registered active ingredient that has been approved by Health Canada for use by children and adults.
As there is no evidence of a relationship between the level of the DEET metabolite and health-related biomarkers of systemic inflammation (hS-CRP), immune function (lymphocyte), liver function (AST, ALT, and GGT), and kidney function (eGFR), exposure to DEET does not appear to have a deleterious impact on human health.
Studies have shown that Picaridin is effective, safe and has fewer unpleasant qualities than DEET. Picaridin is odorless, does not melt plastics, or feel oily on skin.
There is no reliable evidence that deet causes cancer.
A Swedish study did find that men who used insect repellent for 115 days or longer faced an increased risk of developing testicular cancer.
Picaridin: This chemical hasn't been in use as long as DEET, but it's been shown to be just as safe and effective, and it has fewer downsides. A product with 20 percent picaridin can give you up to 14 hours of protection against mosquitoes and ticks, per an EPA-approved label.
Why does DEET have a reputation for being harmful? DEET is neither intended nor safe for ingestion. Dr. Amin notes that oral intake can result in side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and (in rare cases) seizures.
It is absorbed through the skin and digestive tract, so it is likely that DEET can also be absorbed through the lungs and into the blood. DEET in the lungs can be coughed up and swallowed, if it is not absorbed first.
PICARIDIN: This relatively new CDC-recommended active ingredient offers the same level of protection that people have come to expect from DEET in formulas that feel a little lighter and cleaner. It's a synthetic repellent compound that mimics the effects of piperine, which is found in plants that produce black pepper.
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.
Mosquito control professionals use plant-derived pyrethrins, often referred to as pyrethrum, to kill adult mosquitoes using ULV spraying.
The ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent utilizes the active ingredient known as allethrin. It belongs to a class of materials called pyrethroids, which are synthetic analogs of pyrethrin, which is a naturally occurring insecticide found in certain types of chrysanthemum known as pyrethrum flowers.
DEET is of relatively low toxicity to animals, especially by the dermal route, but in large enough doses, it will produce signs of neurotoxicity primarily with acute inhalation or oral exposure.
DEET has an excellent safety profile and has remarkable protection against mosquitoes, ticks and various other arthropods. Toxicity is unusual, and is generally associated with incorrect, or overuse of the product. We report a patient with severe toxicity following inhalational exposure to a "bug bomb".
Picaridin has been classified as not likely to be a human carcinogen. Because of Picaridin's unusual use pattern (direct application to human skin), the Agency believes it is prudent to require clear, common sense use directions and restrictions on Picaridin product labels.
As with DEET, the EPA has concluded that the normal use of picaridin does not present a health concern. Studies have shown picaridin to be slightly more effective than DEET in repelling mosquitoes, and equally as effective as DEET against ticks.
Kim said a 1991 review found many cases where high DEET concentrations were linked to severe skin reactions and neurological problems including seizures. Doctors also onsidered DEET to be the probable cause of the deaths of three children, although the link was not proven, she said.
Yes, our Expedition 100+ DEET Insect Repellent spray remains compliant and available for sale in the UK and Ireland.