What is DEET（N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide）? Is DEET safe?

Is DEET(diethyltoluamide) safe for humans?

As a product that has been used worldwide for over 60 years, DEET is proven safe and reliable. In the 1998 EPA “Re-registration Qualification Decision“, DEET(diethyltoluamide) was deemed “not to cause health problems to the public under normal use.” Although there have been reports of poisoning caused by exposure to DEET(diethyltoluamide), most of these cases are caused by long-term, large-scale or improper use (most patients are treated without sequelae).

For most people, daily application of repellent containing no more than 35% DEET(diethyltoluamide) will suffice. When spraying these products, the amount should be just enough to cover the bare skin, do not overspray to soak the skin or use on the inside of clothing. When using related products on the face, do not spray directly. It should be placed in the palm of the hand and rubbed before applying to the face, and avoid contact with the mouth and eyes. Also, be careful not to apply DEET(diethyltoluamide) to skin wounds, inflamed redness, or eczema. When people return indoors after outdoor activities, they should wash the body parts coated with the repellent with soap and water in time.

When using mosquito repellent products containing DEET, it can be sprayed directly on the skin for daily mosquito repellent. However, because DEET itself is irritating, it is necessary to avoid wounds and areas of skin inflammation, let alone spray around the eyes and ears, and around the mouth to avoid irritation to the skin or exposure to the human body. Absorption affects health.

In addition, although the higher concentration of DEET can provide better and longer-lasting protection, its concentration-protection effect will also achieve a “ceiling” effect. The concentration of DEET 10~35% is generally sufficient to meet the protection of people’s daily activities. needs.

Precautions: DEET Manufacturers advise users that DEET-containing products should not be used in direct contact with broken skin or in clothing; when not needed, the preparation can be washed off with water. DEET acts as an irritant, so skin irritation is inevitable.

At the same time as DEET’s decision to qualify for reregistration, the EPA announced between 14 and 46 cases of epilepsy that may be potentially linked to DEET, including four deaths. “Indeed, some cases may be related to the toxicity of DEET,” the EPA statement said, but surveys show that 30 percent of Americans use DEET, so the incidence of epilepsy is only 100 million.

According to a report by Cornell University’s Joint Extension Office of the Insecticide Intelligence Program, “Employees with high DEET use in Everglades National Park experienced more insomnia, restlessness, and cognitive impairment than those with low DEET exposure. Serious. A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found no difference in safety between 10% and 30% of children using the product directly, however, it is not recommended for infants under two months of age.

The British “BMC Biology” magazine recently published a new study showing that the mosquito repellent “DEET” (DEET) has an inhibitory effect on the activity of a key enzyme in the central nervous system, and researchers believe it is necessary to re-study The safety of this repellent. An international team led by French researchers found that DEET inhibits the activity of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that is critical in the central nervous systems of both insects and mammals.