Is it bad to breathe in mosquito spray?

Author: Prof. Ruthie Abbott  |  Last update: Sunday, August 31, 2025

Poisonous Ingredient Some of these are malaria, dengue fever, and West Nile virus. Other less effective bug sprays contain pyrethrins. Pyrethrins are a pesticide made from the chrysanthemum flower. It is generally considered nonpoisonous, but it can cause breathing problems if you breathe in large amounts.

Is it bad to inhale mosquito spray?

DEET: While uncommon, products with DEET can cause short-term eye or skin irritation. People who have inhaled DEET repellents have reported coughing and respiratory irritation. If eaten, they can cause stomach and digestive irritation.

Is mosquito spraying toxic to humans?

While the risk to humans from pyrethroids is relatively low when applied properly, these products are far from harmless to human health. People exposed to large amounts of pyrethroids can experience effects like stinging skin, dizziness, headache, or nausea that might last for several hours.

Is smelling mosquito repellent harmful?

Inhalation of mosquito repellants in forms of sprays or vapourizers even if in low concentration leads to neurotoxic and immunotoxic illnesses [9] Exposure to Black mosquito coil is hazardous as it damages the lungs [10].

How long should you stay inside after mosquito spraying?

Steps you should take:

If possible, remain inside or avoid the area whenever spraying takes place and for about 30 minutes after spraying. That time period will greatly reduce the likelihood of your breathing pesticides in the air.

Is spraying to kill mosquitoes bad for your health?

What to do after inhaling mosquito spray?

Get medical help right away. Do not make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes. If the person breathed in the poison, move them to fresh air right away.

Can I sleep in a room with mosquito repellent?

Running the repellent before going to sleep will assure you that any mosquitoes in the room will be dead by the time you go to sleep. #4: Cover your body with mosquito repellent. It may not be the ideal scent to fall asleep to, but repellent is not just for using during the day.

Is mosquito repellent spray toxic?

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.

Why is DEET banned in Europe?

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.

Is citronella good for the lungs?

When inhaled: Citronella oil is likely unsafe. Lung damage has been reported.

Is it safe to be outside during mosquito spraying?

Stay indoors with the windows closed during spraying. If you are outdoors when spraying takes place and come in contact with the chemical, rinse your skin and eyes with water. Wash fruits and vegetables from your garden before storing, cooking, or eating.

How long after spraying bug spray is it safe for humans?

If possible, they should stay inside or avoid the area for about 30 minutes after spraying. If pesticides are applied inside the home, windows should be opened to allow air flow.

What eats mosquitoes the most?

Many birds will eat mosquitoes. The more important among these are purple martins, swallows, waterfowl (geese, terns, ducks) and migratory songbirds. Bird predators usually eat both the adult and aquatic stages of mosquitoes.

Is DEET toxic if inhaled?

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".

What is the safest bug spray to use?

DEET, picaridin, and natural oils like lemon and eucalyptus oil are all very common and safe ingredients found in bug repellent. Some people prefer to stay away from DEET, as it can burn when it gets in your eyes and often comes with a potent smell.

Is it bad to breathe in spray?

The long-term effects of aerosol inhalation are still being researched, but it seems that most of the short-term damage from the chemicals in the solvents is reversed once the user stops. However, there's the possibility of long-term damage, including brain damage and liver or kidney damage.

How harmful is DEET to humans?

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.

Is DEET bad for you in 2024?

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.

Is DEET a carcinogen?

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.

Is mosquito spray safe to breathe?

Is the spray safe to breathe? The very small concentrations used, about . 007 pounds per acre, will not cause adverse effects for most people. Persons who have severe allergies should avoid the spray however.

Is mosquito spraying harmful to humans?

Many of my patients have experienced severe neurologic and respiratory exacerbations as well as other organ system damage, such as significant increase in liver enzymes, from exposure to residue from pesticide spraying for West Nile virus.

Is inhaling mosquito repellent safe?

For sprays that contain pyrethrins: For simple exposure or inhaling small amounts, recovery should occur. Severe breathing difficulty can quickly become life threatening.

What happens if you don't wash off DEET?

Very often, people don't wash the product off their skin after returning indoors. This can result in overexposure, especially in cases where a product is applied too often (at short intervals) or daily for several days. A small amount of DEET is absorbed into the body when applied to the skin.

What kills mosquitoes the best naturally?

You can try diffusing lemon eucalyptus essential oil, or purchase a natural bug spray that has lemon eucalyptus oil as the natural ingredient. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is the only natural ingredient that's CDC-approved as insect repellent (on par with DEET).

Does sleeping with lights on keep mosquitoes away?

The answer is no, mosquitoes are not attracted to light like many insects are, but they're not repelled by light either.

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