Is DEET a dangerous neurotoxicant?

Swale, Daniel R.; Bloomquist, Jeffrey R.

doi:10.1002/ps.5476

Cited by 46 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Firstly, there has been minimal research done on available alternatives to the proposed practices. Taking the case of insect repellents, numerous studies are available to prove the efficacy [ 59 , 60 , 61 , 85 ] and explore the potential safety concerns [ 86 , 87 , 88 ] of DEET. However, the strength of research supporting the repellence of natural alternatives like plant oils is variable [ 74 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases

Chan

Sham

Shahzada

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Climate change is expanding the global at-risk population for vector-borne diseases (VBDs). The World Health Organization (WHO) health emergency and disaster risk management (health-EDRM) framework emphasises the importance of primary prevention of biological hazards and its value in protecting against VBDs. The framework encourages stakeholder coordination and information sharing, though there is still a need to reinforce prevention and recovery within disaster management. This keyword-search based narrative literature review searched databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase and Medline between January 2000 and May 2020, and identified 134 publications. In total, 10 health-EDRM primary prevention measures are summarised at three levels (personal, environmental and household). Enabling factor, limiting factors, co-benefits and strength of evidence were identified. Current studies on primary prevention measures for VBDs focus on health risk-reduction, with minimal evaluation of actual disease reduction. Although prevention against mosquito-borne diseases, notably malaria, has been well-studied, research on other vectors and VBDs remains limited. Other gaps included the limited evidence pertaining to prevention in resource-poor settings and the efficacy of alternatives, discrepancies amongst agencies’ recommendations, and limited studies on the impact of technological advancements and habitat change on VBD prevalence. Health-EDRM primary prevention measures for VBDs require high-priority research to facilitate multifaceted, multi-sectoral, coordinated responses that will enable effective risk mitigation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research on the safety of DEET has yielded conflicting findings. While some studies demonstrate potential harms such as the pro-angiogenic properties of DEET [ 86 ], others suggest that DEET imposes minimal to no evident health risks under proper usage [ 87 ], even when applied on vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women [ 88 ].…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases

Chan

Sham

Shahzada

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Our results suggest that although insect repellents on clothes/skin were not associated with birth weight and length, this pesticide may suppress child body growth one month after birth. Although DEET has been considered relatively safe for humans [ 23 ], a study observed fetal birth weight loss in the litters of pregnant rats exposed to high doses of DEET [ 24 ]. The impact of the effects of DEET on human thyroid hormone remains unclear, and the association between DEET exposure and human child body sizes and growth trajectories requires careful interpretation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between Prenatal Exposure to Household Pesticides and Neonatal Weight and Length Growth in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Matsuki

Ebara

Tamada

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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The effects of prenatal exposure to household pesticides on fetal and neonatal growth have not been fully clarified. The present study aims to determine the effects of prenatal exposure to pesticides on neonates’ body size and growth during the first month. This study included 93,718 pairs of pregnant women and their children from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. Participants completed self-reporting questionnaires during their second or third trimesters on their demographic characteristics and frequency of pesticide use during pregnancy. Child weight, length, and sex were obtained from medical record transcripts. Birth weight and length, as well as weight and length changes over the first month, were estimated using an analysis of covariance. Frequency of exposure to almost all pesticides had no effects on birth weight and length. However, we found small but significant associations (i) between the use of fumigation insecticides and decreased birth weight, and (ii) between frequencies of exposure to pyrethroid pesticides, especially mosquito coils/mats, and suppression of neonatal length growth. Prenatal exposure to household pesticides, especially those containing pyrethroids, might adversely influence fetal and postnatal growth trajectories.

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“…N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) has been considered one of the most effective repellents [ 4 ]. While there have been reports due to toxic effects on children and pregnant women, the harmful effects are minimized when label instructions are properly followed [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Research interest to find new natural anti-mosquito agents has grown in the last decades [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation of Volatile Compounds with Repellent Properties against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Using CPC Technology

et al. 2021

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The present work describes the use of Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) for the bio-guided isolation of repellent active volatile compounds from essential oils. Five essential oils (EOs) obtained from three Pinus and two Juniperus species were initially analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and evaluated for their repellent properties against Aedes albopictus. The essential oil from needles of P. pinea (PPI) presented the higher activity, showing 82.4% repellency at a dose of 0.2 μL/cm2. The above EO, together with the EO from the fruits of J. oxycedrus subsp. deltoides (JOX), were further analyzed by CPC using the biphasic system n-Heptane/ACN/BuOH in ratio 1.6/1.6/0.2 (v/v/v). The analysis of PPI essential oil resulted in the recovery of (−)-limonene, guaiol and simple mixtures of (−)-limonene/β-pheladrene, while the fractionation of JOX EO led to the recovery of β-myrcene, germacrene-D, and mixtures of α-pinene/β-pinene (ratio 70/30) and α-pinene/germacrene D (ratio 65/45). All isolated compounds and recovered mixtures were tested for their repellent activity. From them, (−)-limonene, guaiol, germacrene-D as well the mixtures of (−)-limonene/β-pheladrene presented significant repellent activity (>97% repellency) against Ae. albopictus. The present methodology could be a valuable tool in the effort to develop potent mosquito repellents which are environmentally friendly.

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Is DEET a dangerous neurotoxicant?

Cited by 46 publications

References 16 publications

Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases

Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases

Association between Prenatal Exposure to Household Pesticides and Neonatal Weight and Length Growth in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Isolation of Volatile Compounds with Repellent Properties against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Using CPC Technology

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