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Insect Repellent: DEET And Permethrin
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Published: November 2, 2006
The pleasant memories of summer do not include the itchy remembrance of those inevitable insect bites. Luckily there are many insect repellents designed to fix this sore spot on summer fun.
Insect repellant is a boon to having fun outdoors because it prevents insects not only from causing itchy bites, but also from spreading potentially deadly diseases to humans.
Insect repellent should be an essential part of any summer kit.
Insects are attracted to humans by scent. Specifically, the lactic acid forming in the muscles and carbon dioxide, which we breathe out of lungs, is what attracts biting insects. Insect repellents mask these chemicals and throw off the insect’s senses.
DEET and Permethrin are the active ingredients found in most insect repellents. DEET is one of the most commonly-used chemicals for insect repellents worldwide. It is extremely effective against mosquitoes and ticks, and is the most economic compound to use. Unlike DEET, Permethrin is most effective when applied to clothing. DEET and Permethrin combined prevent mosquitoes, ticks, flies and many other insects from biting with almost 100 percent protection.
Researchers discovered DEET in the 1930s. The U.S. Army patented this compound soon afterward and made DEET their insect repellent of choice in jungle warfare. DEET was the only compound capable of withstanding the rigors of life in the Army. It was first introduced into the civilian market in 1957.
DEET makes an effective insect repellent because it is believed to blind the homing senses of insects. DEET masks carbon dioxide and lactic acid odors at close range, throwing off the insect’s sense of where it could land on a human. DEET makes it difficult for an insect to detect a human’s location.
Commercially it is possible to find DEET in concentrations up to 100 percent. While 100 percent DEET would provide the best short-term insect repellent, it is generally better for those spending a large amount of time outdoors to get a lower concentration. DEET in high concentrations does not bind to the skin, and can easily be evaporated or sweated off the body. Typically, insect repellent containing 30 to 60 percent DEET combined with lotions or other binding agents works best. To make up for the diminished concentration, lower-concentration DEET insect repellent needs to be applied with greater frequency.
The other main chemical in the war against insects is Permethrin. Unlike DEET, Permethrin is an aggressive insect repellent. This commonly-used chemical is actually a contact insecticide widely used by the agricultural industry. It is a neurotoxin on insects and small mammals. Permethrin as an insect repellent is most effective when it is applied to clothing, since it binds poorly to skin. While it is deadly to insects like ticks and mosquitoes, it has low to nonexistent toxicity in humans.
The most powerful insect repellent is one combing both DEET and Permethrin. With DEET on the skin and Permethrin on clothing, they can withstand insects with nearly 100 percent certainty.
Depending on the density of insects, there are vast arrays of insect repellent products readily available on the market every summer, including ones which can be used with sunscreens and sun blocks.
Summer can be reclaimed now, with a simple spray of insect repellent.
Sources:
The Insect Repellent DEET, Pesticides, US EPA. May 2, 2006. United States Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals /deet.htm. October 11, 2006.
Insect Repellent Products. C. S. Apperson and M. G. Waldvogel, Extension Entomologists. April 2005. Department of Entymology, North Carolina State University. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/repe l.htm. October 11, 2006.
Insect Repellents- How they work. AISnet. 2006. http://insect-repellent.net/index.htm. October 11, 2006.
Insect repellant is a boon to having fun outdoors because it prevents insects not only from causing itchy bites, but also from spreading potentially deadly diseases to humans.
Related Articles
Insects are attracted to humans by scent. Specifically, the lactic acid forming in the muscles and carbon dioxide, which we breathe out of lungs, is what attracts biting insects. Insect repellents mask these chemicals and throw off the insect’s senses.
DEET and Permethrin are the active ingredients found in most insect repellents. DEET is one of the most commonly-used chemicals for insect repellents worldwide. It is extremely effective against mosquitoes and ticks, and is the most economic compound to use. Unlike DEET, Permethrin is most effective when applied to clothing. DEET and Permethrin combined prevent mosquitoes, ticks, flies and many other insects from biting with almost 100 percent protection.
Researchers discovered DEET in the 1930s. The U.S. Army patented this compound soon afterward and made DEET their insect repellent of choice in jungle warfare. DEET was the only compound capable of withstanding the rigors of life in the Army. It was first introduced into the civilian market in 1957.
DEET makes an effective insect repellent because it is believed to blind the homing senses of insects. DEET masks carbon dioxide and lactic acid odors at close range, throwing off the insect’s sense of where it could land on a human. DEET makes it difficult for an insect to detect a human’s location.
Commercially it is possible to find DEET in concentrations up to 100 percent. While 100 percent DEET would provide the best short-term insect repellent, it is generally better for those spending a large amount of time outdoors to get a lower concentration. DEET in high concentrations does not bind to the skin, and can easily be evaporated or sweated off the body. Typically, insect repellent containing 30 to 60 percent DEET combined with lotions or other binding agents works best. To make up for the diminished concentration, lower-concentration DEET insect repellent needs to be applied with greater frequency.
The other main chemical in the war against insects is Permethrin. Unlike DEET, Permethrin is an aggressive insect repellent. This commonly-used chemical is actually a contact insecticide widely used by the agricultural industry. It is a neurotoxin on insects and small mammals. Permethrin as an insect repellent is most effective when it is applied to clothing, since it binds poorly to skin. While it is deadly to insects like ticks and mosquitoes, it has low to nonexistent toxicity in humans.
The most powerful insect repellent is one combing both DEET and Permethrin. With DEET on the skin and Permethrin on clothing, they can withstand insects with nearly 100 percent certainty.
Depending on the density of insects, there are vast arrays of insect repellent products readily available on the market every summer, including ones which can be used with sunscreens and sun blocks.
Summer can be reclaimed now, with a simple spray of insect repellent.
Sources:
The Insect Repellent DEET, Pesticides, US EPA. May 2, 2006. United States Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals /deet.htm. October 11, 2006.
Insect Repellent Products. C. S. Apperson and M. G. Waldvogel, Extension Entomologists. April 2005. Department of Entymology, North Carolina State University. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/repe l.htm. October 11, 2006.
Insect Repellents- How they work. AISnet. 2006. http://insect-repellent.net/index.htm. October 11, 2006.
