Why insect repellent works

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Here's a list of products that aren't supported by evidence. By Consumer Reports. Last updated: June 07, Sharing is Nice Yes, send me a copy of this email. Send We respect your privacy. Oops, we messed up.

Try again later. When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Learn more. Natural Repellents It sounds like such a good idea: Use a "natural" mosquito repellent, with an active ingredient like clove or lemongrass or rosemary oil, and avoid the ones containing chemicals such as deet. More on Insect Repellents. More From Consumer Reports.

Wristbands These wearable repellent devices are marketed as being safer because you don't have to rub anything on your skin. Sonic Repellents Ultrasonic devices are claimed to emit high-frequency sounds that are too high for humans to hear but are just the right frequency to drive pests, including mosquitoes, away. What About Clip-On Foggers?

Other common repellent active ingredients have not had full assessments done to determine the cancer risks. However, one of the signs that a chemical could be linked to cancer is if it affects genes or cell DNA in a lab.

None of the common repellent ingredients have been shown to damage genes in lab tests. Repellents have been tested and designed for use in certain ways. Only use a repellent in ways that are described on the label. Following the label directions and the tips below can minimize your risk. Children may be more likely to mishandle a bottle or lick treated skin, increasing their risks. Check the product label to see if there is a minimum age for use.

If no age limit is on the label, the EPA has not put age restrictions on the product. Here are a few tips from professional organizations:.

There is currently no published data on the use of common repellents while breastfeeding. DEET : No harmful effects were seen in mothers or their infants that regularly applied DEET products during their second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Inhalation and feeding studies showed no effect on animal reproductive organs. Picaridin : No effects on pregnancies or fetuses were found in studies when animals were fed or had their skin treated with concentrated picaridin before or during pregnancies.

IR : Multiple feeding studies show concentrated IR is low in developmental and reproductive toxicity. Oil of lemon eucalyptus : Only slight changes in weight gain were observed during pregnancy in rats with large doses of the ingredient put on their skin. There were no effects on fetal development. However, the effects of using both depend on which sunscreen and which repellent is used. Few or no studies address using IR or oil of lemon eucalyptus with sunscreens.

The CDC does not recommend products that have both sunscreen and an insect repellent. Sunscreen may need to be used more often than a repellent.

Therefore, combined products may not be used as often as they should be for sun protection. If you decide to use both, the CDC recommends applying sunscreen first, letting it dry, and then applying an insect repellent over the sunscreen. Water from washing clothing and bathing is treated at a nearby wastewater treatment plant. Consider contacting a local water treatment facility for information about water quality in your area.

Repellents may also be washed off of skin and clothing into lakes or rivers during recreation. A repellent will tend to travel with water if it is dissolved. It could travel either downstream or through soil. The solubilities of DEET and picaridin are variable. They are not likely to stick to soil. The breakdown of repellents in air, water, and soils has not been widely studied. Reports for breakdown times of picaridin and DEET in soil or water are variable and range from days to weeks, or longer.

As for their movement in the environment, the four repellents are moderately volatile and can release vapors into the air. Their half-lives in air range between 7 and 15 hours. DEET is slightly toxic to birds, fish, and aquatic invertebrates. Scientists have not found effects on small organisms such as snails, mayflies, or water fleas from small amounts of DEET, picaridin, or IR in natural waters.

The health risks and efficacy of essential oils have not been as widely studied as common insect repellents. However, a variety of information is available, including information from CDC. There are no EPA-registered repellents that contain garlic oil, rosemary, lemongrass, thyme, or geraniol oils as active ingredients. Do not apply permethrin to skin as a repellent. There are some products with permethrin that can be used to treat fabrics. Permethrin works on contact, meaning that an insect must touch the treated item to be harmed or killed.

Do not apply permethrin to clothing while it is being worn. Only treat clothing, netting, or gear with products that have specific directions for treating fabrics. Do not over-treat fabrics. Use the correct concentration for treatment.

Allow any treated items to dry thoroughly after treatment before handling or wearing. For more detailed information about insect repellents please visit the list of referenced resources , call the National Pesticide Information Center, Monday - Friday, between am - pm Pacific Time am - pm Eastern Time at , or visit us on the web at npic.

Bug sprays primarily consist of a pressurized, concentrated dose of their active ingredient. The EPA has tested and approved the following chemicals as safe and effective active ingredients for bug spray:.

However, some bug sprays may use ingredients that the EPA has not officially evaluated. Some of these ingredients minimum risk pesticides are proven to be safe but have not been confirmed to be effective. DEET, in particular, has been the subject of considerable controversy for its potential toxicity. To rid your space of mosquitoes, we apply an insecticide to lawns, shrubs, and all other low foliage.

Our mosquito control services include:.