The state first tried to ban products containing more than 30 percent DEET in 1992, but the chemical manufacturers obtained a restraining order. Kim said a 1991 review found many cases where high DEET concentrations were linked to severe skin reactions and neurological problems including seizures.
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: ...
It's a chemical, after all — and bodies often react to chemicals. Some people experience rashes or irritated skin after using DEET. It can also irritate your eyes if sprayed too close to your peepers. More alarming, there have been rare reports of seizures associated with DEET.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The benefits of DEET-free insect repellents
Effectiveness against mosquitoes through the use of essential oils such as lemon eucalyptus, without the side effects of chemicals. Gentleness on the skin, making these repellents ideal for people with sensitive skin and for use on children.
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.
Technical grade Picaridin has low acute oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity. It is classified as Toxicity Category IV for acute inhalation toxicity and primary dermal irritation and Toxicity Category III for acute oral, acute dermal and primary eye irritation. It is not a dermal sensitizer.
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.
For more than 60 years, DEET has reigned as the undisputed champion of insect repellents. No longer. There's now a potentially better alternative on the market: picaridin. Both DEET and picaridin are proven to be effective at fending off ticks—and are superior to other repellents when it comes to protection time.
Whether and how much DEET use causes reproductive problems in humans will need to be confirmed in future studies. Such studies have been scarce to date in humans because of the ethical concerns involved.
Very rarely, exposure to DEET has been associated with seizures in people. Most of these reactions have happened after drinking products with DEET in them or using the products in ways that do not follow label directions. Reports of pets being exposed to DEET in amounts that would make them sick are rare.
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.
Except for a few veterinary uses, DEET is registered for use by consumers, and it is not used on food. DEET is designed for direct application to people's skin to repel insects. Rather than killing them, DEET works by making it hard for these biting bugs to smell us.
There have also been scattered research reports tying DEET to health concerns. One 2009 study concluded that DEET may prevent the normal breakdown of acetylcholine, a nervous system chemical that triggers movement and muscle activity. Some older research has also tied DEET to seizures or brain toxicity in children.
When it comes to a strong chemical such as DEET, it's best to avoid overexposure. So if you want to use DEET, skip the high concentrations. Opt for 7-to-10 percent if you only need a few hours of protection. If you need all-day protection, look for 20-30 percent DEET, ideally in a time-release formulation.
Yes: DEET. A repellent with DEET tells mosquitos to buzz off loud and clear. You'll need one with at least 20% DEET to protect your skin for several hours at a time, although more than 50% doesn't work any better (kids should use 10%-30%).
To avoid overexposure, be sure to remove DEET product before going to bed (shower or use a wash cloth to remove from skin).
Yes, our Expedition 100+ DEET Insect Repellent spray remains compliant and available for sale in the UK and Ireland.
Occasionally, there have been reports of people having negative reactions after excessive use of repellents containing DEET. These effects included seizures, uncoordinated movements, agitation, aggressive behavior, low blood pressure, and skin irritation.
“We don't know exactly why, we don't know what it means to the mosquito, but it doesn't like it, and so it will jump away.” Research also suggests that picaridin may have some effect on mosquitoes' ability to sense odors, another trait it has in common with deet.