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Consumer
Specialty Products
Association
202-872-8110
As U.S. news
media continue reporting on the spread of West Nile virus, including
frequent official recommendations that residents in affected areas use
insect repellents containing DEET, the following facts are offered for
journalists’ use. We can
suggest knowledgeable scientists and health care professionals for
interviews. Additional
information for journalists and consumers, including an educational
brochure that provides tips for insect protection, is available at www.deetonline.org
and by telephoning 1-888-NO BITES (888-662-4837). ·
DEET is the
common name for N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide, which is the active ingredient
in the most widely used insect repellents applied to the skin. ·
DEET-based
products are marketed worldwide in a variety of concentrations and forms
designed to protect consumers from biting insects and ticks, and the
serious diseases they can carry. ·
In carefully controlled independent tests using mosquitoes
and human subjects, as reported in the July 4, 2002, edition of the New
England Journal of Medicine (www.nejm.org),
insect repellents containing DEET provided complete protection from bites
for longer periods than other widely used repellent products.
The researchers tested four consumer products containing DEET and
12 other repellent products.
According to the study, “Only products containing DEET are dependable for
long-lasting protection after a single application.” ·
All
DEET-based products are carefully evaluated and registered by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency before they are marketed in this country.
The EPA has
determined that the use of currently registered products containing DEET,
when label directions are followed, which includes all concentrations,
will not pose unreasonable risks or adverse effects to humans. ·
DEET
disrupts the ability of biting insects to detect the source of carbon
dioxide—the gas naturally given off by our skin and in our breath—
which is what attracts mosquitoes and other insects to us.
Insects aren’t killed—they just can’t locate their prey for a
period of hours. ·
The World
Health Organization, U.S. Army and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention are among the many organizations that recommend using
DEET-based repellents in affected areas. ·
DEET
is used by approximately 30 percent of Americans annually, averaging seven
to eight applications per person. This results in more than 400 million
applications of DEET annually. ·
The most commonly reported adverse events, which happen
rarely, are skin rashes in a very small percentage of the population.
These resolve quickly when the product is washed from the skin.
There is no relationship between the concentration of DEET in a
product and the incidence of skin rash. ·
No other
personal insect repellent has been tested as rigorously and extensively as
DEET for effective consumer use. · No direct link between DEET and significant health symptoms has ever been scientifically established from the proper use of DEET repellent products. APPLICATION
INFORMATION ·
Always
follow labeling instructions. ·
Reapply when
mosquitoes begin to be troublesome again. ·
Do not soak
clothing or bedding in DEET-based repellents. ·
DEET
products are available in a variety of concentrations.
The more DEET in the product, the longer lasting the protection. ·
The EPA has
noted that individuals of all ages (age 2 and up) can use DEET-based
repellents with confidence in any
concentration so long as label directions are followed.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has indicated that
concentrations lower than 10% are preferable for children, there is no
scientific evidence to suggest that this lower concentration is needed.
DEET products today are intended for all family members over the
age of 2. ·
Parents
should apply DEET-based repellents to younger children (rather than allow
them to do it themselves). It
is advisable to put a small amount of DEET-based repellent on the
parent’s hands then rub the hands on the face of the child (Never spray
DEET onto anyone’s face; it can cause eye irritation). ·
DEET-based
repellents should be applied to exposed, unbroken skin. These repellents
are not needed underneath clothing. ·
Do not apply
DEET-based repellents to the parts of a very young child’s hands that
might end up in the mouth or rubbed on eyes Important to Note ·
DEET
is a personal insect repellent, designed for human use. · DEET does not kill mosquitoes; it simply repels them. According to one expert, "They go into 'time out' for about three hours." ·
Pesticide
products designed to kill mosquitoes and other insects should NEVER
be applied to humans. The
Consumer Specialty Products Association (www.cspa.org)
represents the interests of the consumer specialty products industry,
which provides households, institutions and industrial customers with
products that help provide a cleaner and healthier environment. |