ABOUT DEET - Bug

ABOUT DEET
Bug-Bouncer™ was developed in response to what we believe is the excessive and often unnecessary use of
chemical pesticides and insecticides. Sometimes chemicals are necessary, but many times, they’re overkill
with toxic side effects. In most situations, traditional, time-tested, natural solutions are just as effective.
Personally, we believe in using the least toxic products whenever possible – least toxic to us, to others, and
to the environment.
Unfortunately there is a lot of confusing and misleading information about insect repellents in general, and
DEET in particular. After extensive study, this is what we have learned:
•
The effectiveness of any insect repellent, whether DEET or botanical-based, is determined by the quality and
concentration of active ingredients, and the conditions when used (heat, humidity, wind, activity-level, etc.).
•
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that DEET is safe when used in accordance
with recommended safety precautions that include applying DEET “sparingly” and washing exposed skin and
clothing with soap and water once indoors (DEET is not water soluble, so it does not just rinse off), The EPA
warns that incorrect application can lead to health issues such as skin irritation, disorientation, dizziness and,
in extreme cases, seizures or death. DEET has been classified by the 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.
•
The EPA acknowledges increased risk with repetitive, extensive and/or long-term exposure to DEET, use by
children, and cross-chemical interactions (including sunscreen and alcohol) and raise concerns about the
environmental impact on fish, terrestrial vertebrates, and other insects including dragonflies, butterflies and
bees.
•
The primary complaint against botanical repellents is that they need to be reapplied more frequently.
However, in response to health and environmental concerns, scientists have recently begun recommending
the use of products with lower concentrations of DEET and reapplying them as necessary.
•
When it comes to public health issues, most communities and medical professionals follow the guidelines
recommended by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With respect to insect repellents,
the CDC recommends the use of products containing active ingredients that have been registered by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Botanical repellents are categorized as “minimum risk pesticides”
and do not require EPA registration. However, EPA regulations prohibit minimum risk pesticides from
making any claims that would “make the consumer believe that they would be protected from a disease that
these insects can carry by using the product.”
•
The #1 global manufacturer of DEET is Vertellus, a specialty chemicals manufacturer serving the agriculture,
nutrition, pharmaceutical, medical, personal care, plastics, coatings and industrial markets. In 2010, they
consolidated their leadership position by acquiring the DEET-related assets of their leading competitor. The
press release stated “Both Vertellus and MGK® have been leaders in navigating the DEET regulatory
landscape for many years. By merging MGK® and Vertellus repellent assets, Vertellus is well positioned to
assist customers, particularly in the European Union, facing DEET-related regulatory challenges now and in the
future.”
•
In response to a petition from the Consumer Specialty Products Association (formerly the Insecticides
Manufacturers Association), the EPA is currently evaluating proposed revisions to minimum risk exemption
policies.
…but it’s up to you to do your own research and decide for yourself. The following information and links
are provided to get you started.
W hat is DEET anyway?
DEET (C12H17NO, N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide), is a lipophilic (fat-soluble)
chemical compound that is the primary ingredient in most insect repellents. DEET was developed by the
U.S. Army in support of jungle warfare during World War II. After testing as a pesticide on farm fields,
DEET was approved for military use in 1946 and civilian use in 1957. DEET has been commercially
marketed as a personal insect repellent since 1965. A Registration Standard was established for DEET by
ABOUT DEET
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the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1980 and DEET was reregistered in 1998. It is
estimated that 30% of the U.S. population uses DEET annually as a personal insect repellent.
Historically it was believed that DEET-based repellents interfered with a mosquito’s ability to detect carbon
dioxide. Additional research concluded that “DEET blocks electrophysiological responses of olfactory
sensory neurons,” but more recent studies indicate “mosquitoes smell DEET directly and avoid it.” The
EPA’s DEET Fact Sheet states “scientists do not know exactly how DEET works.”
The leading global supplier of DEET is Vertellus, a specialty chemicals manufacturer, with annual sales of
approximately $450M. Vertellus, created through a private-equity merger of Reilly Industries and
Rutherford Chemicals, serving the agriculture, nutrition, pharmaceutical, medical, personal care, plastics,
coatings and industrial markets. Their website states:
We don’t make DEET-based formulations here at Vertellus…we make the DEET that other
companies use to create repellent products.
In 2010, Vertellus consolidated their leadership position by acquiring the DEET-related assets of the
McLaughlin Gormley King Company (MGK®). The press release states “Both Vertellus and MGK® have
been leaders in navigating the DEET regulatory landscape for many years. By merging MGK® and Vertellus
repellent assets, Vertellus is well positioned to assist customers, particularly in the European Union, facing
DEET-related regulatory challenges now and in the future.”
DEET can’t be that bad or they wouldn’t sell it.
The Los Angeles Times reported that after performing a comprehensive safety re-assessment in 1998, the
EPA concluded: "As long as consumers follow label directions and take proper precautions, insect repellents
containing DEET do not present a health concern. Human exposure is expected to be brief, and long-term
exposure is not expected. Based on extensive toxicity testing, the agency believes that the normal use of
DEET does not present a health concern to the general population."
The EPA recommends using DEET “sparingly” with the following safety precautions:
•
Do not spray in enclosed areas.
•
Do not apply over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
•
Do not apply to hands or near eyes and mouth of young children.
•
Do not allow children under 10 years of age to apply repellent themselves.
•
Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing.
•
Do not breathe in, swallow, or get into the eyes (DEET is toxic if swallowed).
•
Do not use under clothing.
•
Avoid over-application of this product.
•
After applying, wipe excess from palm surfaces to prevent inadvertent contact with eyes, mouth and genitals.
•
Use of this product may cause skin reactions in rare cases.
•
To apply to face, spray on hands first and then rub on face. Do not spray directly onto face. Use only when
outdoors and wash skin with soap and water after coming indoors.
•
After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when
repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it
again.
•
Combination products, such as those combining repellent and sunscreen should not be used. Sunscreens often
are applied repeatedly because they are washed off. Unlike sunscreen, very little DEET would be washed off
ABOUT DEET
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with water* and will last for several hours. Repeated application of a DEET-containing sunscreen product may
increase the potential for toxic effects of DEET.
DEET is also a known plasticizer and solvent that can damage rubber, plastic, vinyl, rayon, spandex, elastic
and other synthetic materials found in contact lenses, eyeglass lenses/frames, watch crystals, combs, and
water bottles. DEET can dissolve painted or varnished surfaces including nail polish.
DEET sales sheets indicate product labels should include the signal words “warning” and/or “harmful” as
well as the following risk codes:
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R22: Harmful if swallowed.
•
R36: Irritating to eyes
•
R38: Irritating to skin.
•
R52: Harmful to aquatic organisms
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R53: May cause long-term adverse effects in the environment
Warnings on the Material Safety Data Sheets of DEET products include:
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Mutagen. May be harmful if swallowed or inhaled. This substance has caused adverse reproductive and fetal
effects in animals. May cause central nervous system effects. Causes eye and skin irritation. May cause
respiratory and digestive tract irritation. Possible sensitizer. Target Organs: Central nervous system, eyes, skin.
•
If large amounts of DEET are inhaled, ingested, or applied dermally (especially areas of skin that are
occluded), the potential for severe toxicity exists. Reported acute or chronic effects from overexposure to
DEET were restlessness, drowsiness, irritability, weakness, headaches, in coordination, slurred speech,
confusion, insomnia, tremor, flexing or extending of extremities, decreases in blood pressure, decreased
heartbeat, skin effects (rashes, bulbous eruptions and necrosis), psychosis, seizures, prolonged disability, coma,
or anaphylactic reaction. Death has been reported when large amounts of DEET were ingested.
•
Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Harmful to terrestrial vertebrates. Avoid Release to the
environment. Dispose of contents/container in accordance with local/regional/national/international
regulation for hazardous wastes. Do NOT dump into any sewers on the ground or into any body of water.
DEET related health issues reported by the National Institute of Health (NIH) include:
“Persons applying DEET to their skin may get hives or have mild redness and irritation. These symptoms are
usually mild and will go away when the product is removed from the skin. Persons who use very high
concentrations of DEET on their skin over a long period of time (such as military personnel or game wardens) may
have more severe skin reactions that include blistering, burning, and permanent scars of the skin. Other symptoms
associated with long-term use of high amounts of DEET (over 50% concentration) include insomnia and mood
changes.
If DEET is unintentionally sprayed into the eyes, nose, or mouth, you may feel a temporary burning sensation and
have redness. Washing the area will usually make the symptoms go away. Burns to the eye may require
medication.
When small amounts of DEET are swallowed by mouth, symptoms may include moderate to severe stomach
irritation, nausea, and vomiting. Low blood pressure (hypotension) and low heart rates (bradycardia) may occur
if a large amount is swallowed. By far, the most serious and devastating complication of large DEET poisonings is
neurological damage. Patients may have disorientation, clumsiness when walking, seizures, or coma. Death is
possible in these cases.
DEET is especially dangerous for small children. Seizures may occur in small children who are consistently exposed
to DEET on their skin for long periods of time. Care should be taken to only apply lower concentrations of DEET
to children for short periods of time. Products containing DEET probably should not be used on infants.”
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Toxicology studies state “the reported penetration of DEET ranges from 5-56% of the topically applied
dose. Because of its lipophilic [fat soluble] nature, DEET is rapidly absorbed within 2 hours after
application, and is eliminated from the plasma [blood] within 4 hours after being rinsed off the skin.
Absorbed DEET is almost completely metabolized, with 99% eliminated through urine, mostly within 12
hours.” Alcohol appears to increase the absorption rate of DEET.
According to the EPA’s DEET Fact Sheet, women in their second and third trimester of pregnancy were
asked to apply a 20% DEET solution to their arms and legs daily until delivery during recent malaria
studies. DEET crossed the placental barrier and was detected in 8% of cord blood samples but no
significant adverse effects were detected in either the mother or the fetus during pregnancy and infants
showed no differences in development or survival at birth or at age one.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports eight DEET-related deaths in the US from
1961 to 2002. Three were from deliberate ingestion; two from dermal [skin] exposure and three were
children receiving heavy and frequent applications of DEET.
But “everyone” says that only DEET-based products are effective against mosquitoes.
When it comes to public health issues, most communities and medical professionals follow the guidelines
promoted by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With respect to insect repellents, the
CDC recommends the use of products containing active ingredients that have been registered by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA registration indicates the active ingredients have been
reviewed and approved for human safety and effectiveness, when applied according to instructions on the
label.
In the United States, the EPA has authorized the use of DEET in spray or lotions in concentrations up to
100%. In Europe, DEET concentration is limited to 15%. Health Canada banned the sale of insect
repellents for human use that contained more than 30% DEET, and recommended that DEET-based
products for children between the ages of 2 and 12 contain less than 10% DEET and that they be applied
no more than 3 times a day; that children under 2 should not receive more than one application a day,
and that DEET-based products should not be used on infants under 6 months.
The EPA has identified a special class of pesticides (“minimum risk pesticides”) that are not subject to
federal registration requirements because their ingredients, both active and inert, are demonstrably safe for
the intended use. The EPA created the exemption for minimum risk pesticides to eliminate the need to
expend significant resources to regulate products that were deemed to be of minimum risk to human
health and the environment. In addition, exempting such products freed Agency resources to focus on
evaluating formulations where toxicity was a concern.
EPA regulations prohibit minimum risk pesticides from making public health claims or implying
endorsement by the EPA or another federal agency or department. Minimum risk pesticides may claim to
control a type of pest, but may not claim to protect the user from any disease that the pest may carry. For
example, “repels mosquitoes” is ok, but “repels mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus” is not.
In response to a 2006 petition from the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA – formerly the
Insecticides Manufacturers Association), the EPA is considering whether repellent products should be
removed from the exemption because effectiveness is critical to disease prevention. In addition, the EPA is
considering whether to re-evaluate the safety standards of the ingredients determined to be minimal risk.
In Dec 2012, the EPA concluded a study on these proposed revisions to minimum risk exemption.
Recommendations include more clearly describing the active and inert ingredients permitted in minimum
risk pesticide products by including specific chemical identifiers and common chemical names on the label,
along with producer contact information. The intention is to restructure the minimum risk exemption with
ABOUT DEET
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a focus on clarity and transparency for the ingredient lists in order to provide more consistent information
for consumers, clearer regulations for producers, and easier identification by states, tribes and EPA as to
whether a product is in compliance with the exemption.
Those “hippy oils” just don’t work.
The effectiveness of any insect repellent is directly correlated to the concentration and quality of the active
ingredients. Effectiveness is reduced by evaporation and absorption from the skin surface, abrasion from
clothing, wash-off from sweat, rain or water, a windy environment and high temperatures.
The EPA has defined a class of insect repellents (“minimum risk pesticides”) that use naturally occurring
ingredients that control pests by non-toxic mechanisms. Examples include citronella, neem, cedar, verbena,
pennyroyal, geranium, lavender, pine, cajeput, catnip, cinnamon, rosemary, basil thyme, allspice, garlic
and peppermint. In the 1990’s, these active ingredients were evaluated by the EPA for safety, but not
effectiveness. When it was determined that they posed minimal risk to human health, products made with
these ingredients were exempt from EPA registration and testing. As a result, botanical repellents have
been poorly studied and conflicting data exists on their efficacy.
Many of the botanical repellents currently on the market contain a very low concentration (<5%) of
active ingredients, so comparisons to 20%-30%-50% DEET-based products is misleading. In addition,
many commercial products often use cheaper, synthetic oils rather than all-natural plant-based ingredients.
Since plant based botanicals are water-soluble, they will wash off with water and will need to be reapplied
more often.
The manufacturer of DEET acknowledges that the concentration of DEET in a product determines how
LONG it will keep bugs away: a higher concentration does not mean that the product will work better - it
just means that it will be effective for a longer period of time (but they also acknowledge that higher
concentrations increase any health risks). They claim a 100% product will last 10-12 hours, while moderate
concentrations (20%-34%) offer 3–6 hours of protection, and lower levels (7-10%) will last about 90
minutes. Moderate levels of physical activity have been shown to decrease the effectiveness of DEET-based
repellents by as much as 40%. Therefore, just like botanical repellents, products with lower concentrations
of DEET may need to be reapplied, depending on the length of time a person is outdoors.
ABOUT DEET
SOURCES:
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA DEET Fact Sheet
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/deet.htm
DEET Reregistration Eligibility Decision
http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/0002fact.pdf
Registered vs. Unregistered Pesticides
http://epa.gov/pesticides/insect/registered_unregistered.htm
Minimum Risk Pesticides
http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/regtools/25b_list.htm
Minimum Risk Pesticides – FAQs
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/regtools/25b/25b-faq.htm
Pesticides; Revisions to Minimum Risk Exemption
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/12/31/2012-31188/pesticides-revisions-to-minimum-risk-exemption
Proposed EPA Rule Regarding Pesticides; Revisions to Minimum Risk Exemption
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/12/31/2012-31188/pesticides-revisions-to-minimum-risk-exemption
The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
NPIC DEET Fact Sheet
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/DEETgen.html
NPIC DEET Technical Data Sheet
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/DEETtech.html#references
United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/deet/health-effects.html
West Nile Virus
http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html
FAQ: Insect Repellent Use & Safety
http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html
United States National Institute of Health (NIH)
Bug Spray Poisoning
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002763.htm
Vertellus
DEET product website
http://www.deet.com/
Vertellus Corporate Website
http://www.vertellus.com
Press Release - MGK Acquisition
http://www.vertellus.com/company.aspx?t=News&NewsID=8
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ABOUT DEET
DEET Material Safety Data Sheet
http://www.vertellus.com/Documents%5CMSDS%5CN,N-Diethyl-mtoluamide%20%28DEET%29%20English.pdf
Chemical Industry Misc
ChemNet – United States DEET Suppliers
http://www.chemnet.com/United-States/Products/Deet/Suppliers-0-0.html
Wisconsin Pharmacal Company Coleman 25% DEET Aerosol - Material Safety Data Sheet
http://www.kellysolutions.com/erenewals/documentsubmit/KellyData%5COK%5Cpesticide%5CMSDS%5C79533%5C102
1-1600-79533%5C1021-1600-79533_Coleman_Insect_Repellent_Long_Lasting_25__Deet_1_10_2012_2_23_14_PM.pdf
Fischer Scientific DEET - Material Safety Data Sheet
http://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/88715.htm
Schering Plough Muskol Aerosol 23.5% DEET - Material Safety Data Sheet
https://oraprdnt.uqtr.uquebec.ca/pls/public/pkg_gen_documents2.telecharger?owa_fichier=GMD/7670/F699736020_Musk
ol_Aerosol__23.5__DEET_schering_plough.pdf
The Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA)
http://www.cspa.org/about-us/cspa-history-.html
CSPA Petition to Modify Minimum Risk Pesticides Exemptions
http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/regtools/25bpetition_letters/cspa_petition.pdf
OTHER
Wikipedia – DEET
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEET
“DEET repels bugs, worries consumers,” Amanda Mascarelli, The Los Angeles Times, June 01, 2011
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/01/health/la-he-summer-health-deet-repellents-20110601
“Mosquitoes smell and avoid the insect repellent DEET,” Syed Zainulabeuddin and Walter S. Leal. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, June 12, 2008
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2008/08/19/0805312105
Health Canada – Insect Repellents
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/life-vie/insect-eng.php
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