Repellents & DEET

DEET

DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the key active ingredient found in many insect repellent products on the market today. It’s an effective repellent against insects such as mosquitoes, which may carry the West Nile virus, and ticks, which may carry Lyme disease. Canadians have been confidently using registered personal insect repellents containing DEET since 1957.

Using DEET with confidence

DEET has been subjected to more scientific and toxicological scrutiny than any other repellent substance. Insect repellents containing DEET can be used effectively and with confidence when used according to label directions. The normal use* of DEET does not present a health concern to the general population. After more than 40 years of use and nearly eight billion human applications, fewer than 50 cases of serious toxic effect have been documented globally in medical literature since 1960.¹

*normal use = as per label directions

DEET re-evaluated in 2002

In 2002, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), the regulatory body responsible for administering the Pest Control Products Act in Canada, released the results of its re-evaluation of personal insect repellents containing DEET. Following the re-evaluation, the PMRA confirmed that the usage of products containing DEET (with concentrations of 30 per cent and below; 10 per cent and below for children) provides protection against insects including mosquitoes and black flies and can be used safely when used according to label directions.

Consumers can use insect repellents containing DEET with confidence by following these simple directions:

• Apply sparingly
• Read and follow all directions and precautions on the product label
• Do not apply over cuts, wounds or irritated skin or to children’s hands
• An adult should always apply insect repellent to children to ensure the manufacturer’s directions are followed
• To apply to face, spray on hands first and then rub on face.

Using DEET products in your home

When applying repellents containing DEET in your home, avoid contact with synthetic fabrics such as Dynel, rayon and acetate, or on furniture finishes, painted surfaces or plastics such as watch faces. DEET can damage these materials.

Health Canada speaks about citronella

After a careful re-evaluation, Health Canada has determined that insect repellents containing citronella oil should not be used on the skin. The re-evaluation was based on a limited amount of human health data that left a high degree of uncertainty about the appropriateness of citronella-based insect repellents. Because of these uncertainties, the PMRA has proposed to phase out citronella-based insect repellents unless data to address the uncertainties are resubmitted.

Other repellents

Choosing a Product

• Choose a product that meets your needs. For example, if you plan to be outdoors for only a short period of time, choose a product with a lower concentration of repellent and repeat application only if you need a longer protection time.
• Use only personal insect repellents that are registered in Canada. They have a registration number granted under the Pest Control Products Act and are labeled as insect repellents to use on people.

In addition to DEET, other active ingredients are found in registered personal insect repellents in Canada:

P-menthane 3,8-diol -

P-menthane 3,8 diol is based on an ingredient found in the lemon eucalyptus plant. It provides up to two hours of protection against mosquitoes.

OFF!® familycare® Eucalyptus Lotion is a unique lotion formula that provides a non-DEET alternative for the whole family.

Soybean oil -

Registered products containing soybean oil provide between 1 and 3.5 hours of protection against mosquitoes, depending on the product.

Using Insect Repellents and Sunscreens at the Same Time

People can use both sunscreen and insect repellents to protect their health when outdoors. Follow the instructions on the package for proper applications of each product. Apply the sunscreen first, followed by the insect repellent.

About the West Nile virus

• Mosquitoes can transmit the West Nile virus after becoming infected by feeding on the blood of birds that carry the virus.
• Most people infected with West Nile have no symptoms or mild flu-like symptoms. In rare cases (approximately 1% of all infections), West Nile can cause inflammation of the brain or spinal cord.
• Symptoms typically occur 3 to 15 days following the bite of an infected mosquito.
• The risk of becoming seriously ill is low, however, the young and the elderly or people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to the virus.

How to Avoid Infection

1. Make your yard less appealing to mosquitoes
   • Remove all sources of standing water from your yard where mosquitoes lay their eggs.
   • Cut back dense vegetation where mosquitoes like to rest.
2. Make yourself less appealing to mosquitoes
   • Stay indoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
   • Do not wear strong fragrances.
   • Wear light-coloured clothing since mosquitoes are attracted to darker colours that radiate heat.
   • Wear long sleeves and pants to reduce the amount of exposed skin.
   • Apply a federally registered repellent such as OFF!® Deep Woods®, OFF! Active® , or OFF!® familycare® to exposed skin.
   • Personal repellents are not recommended for use on pets. Use of a registered insect control product such as OFF!® Area Bug Spray Yard & Deck, or OFF!® PowerPad™ Mosquito Lamp or Lantern may assist in controlling mosquitoes around your pet in outdoor settings.
   • Read product labels for directions and protection times to ensure that you do not get bitten.

What is the history of West Nile Virus?

• West Nile virus is an insect-borne disease that first appeared in the West Nile region of Uganda in 1937
• The virus was first detected in the Western Hemisphere (in the bird population), during the summer of 1999 in New York State
• Canada reported its first confirmed case in 2001, when it was detected in 128 dead birds found in Southern Ontario
• The first human case of West Nile virus in Canada was reported the following year in Ontario, and infected birds have since surfaced across Canada