Repel 100 Insect Repellent, Pump Spray, 4-Fluid Ounces, 10-Hour Protection

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DEET is often sold and used in spray or lotion in concentrations up to 100%. [13] Consumer Reports found a direct correlation between DEET concentration and hours of protection against insect bites. 100% DEET was found to offer up to 12 hours of protection while several lower concentration DEET formulations (20–34%) offered 3–6 hours of protection. [ citation needed] Other research has corroborated the effectiveness of DEET. [14] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 30–50% DEET to prevent the spread of pathogens carried by insects. [15] Tenenbein M (September 1987). "Severe toxic reactions and death following the ingestion of diethyltoluamide-containing insect repellents". JAMA. 258 (11): 1509–11. doi: 10.1001/jama.258.11.1509. PMID 3625951. Ditzen M, Pellegrino M, Vosshall LB (2008). "Insect odorant receptors are molecular targets of the insect repellent DEET". Science. 319 (5871): 1838–42. Bibcode: 2008Sci...319.1838D. doi: 10.1126/science.1153121. PMID 18339904. S2CID 18499590. {{ cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( link) Applying DEET to the skin is safe if done as directed. Adverse reactions are very rare, about 1 in 100 million people. However, repeated use of DEET in very high concentrations can lead to toxic encephalopathy with severe neurological symptoms including seizures, tremors and slurred speech. The risk is higher for children since they have a greater surface area to body weight ratio. [27] [28] Interactions [ edit ]

Toxicological profile for DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) (Technical report). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. August 2017. pp.74–78. Baselt RC (2014). Disposition of toxic drugs and chemicals in man, 10th edition. Seal Beach, Ca.: Biomedical Publications. p.650. ISBN 978-0-9626523-9-4.It’s also true that there are some scary-sounding reports in both the research literature and the popular press. 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.

Adelaide Herbert, a dermatologist at UTHealth Houston, says DEET is considered safe for most adults, but ingesting large amounts has been linked to seizures. She adds that pregnant women and young children may want to find an alternative to DEET (she usually recommends picaridin to protect against mosquitoes). EWG’s science review concluded that although DEET certainly isn’t perfect, its safety profile is actually better than a lot of people think. Given that DEET is highly effective, reasonably safe and has been used billions of times, we concluded that it’s a reasonable choice when you need a repellent that really works. Insect Repellents". Healthy Living. Health Canada. August 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-04-11 . Retrieved 2010-07-09. Picaridin vs DEET: Which Is the Best Insect Repellent?". Appalachian Mountain Club. 4 August 2023 . Retrieved 7 August 2023. THERMAREST & MSR: Sale! 30% Off all MSR Tents and Thermarest Sleeping Bags including the award-winning Parsec 0!

Other options may not work as well

Katz TM, Miller JH, Hebert AA (May 2008). "Insect repellents: historical perspectives and new developments". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 58 (5): 865–71. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2007.10.005. PMID 18272250 . Retrieved 2015-08-16. Weeks, JA; Guiney, PD; Nikiforov, AI (January 2012). "Assessment of the environmental fate and ecotoxicity of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET)". Integrated environmental assessment and management. 8 (1): 120–34. doi: 10.1002/ieam.1246. PMID 22006575. Chemists know it as N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, and it’s a compound that was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946 and then registered for use for the general public in 1957.