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April 28, 1998
- What is DEET?
- What recent decision did EPA make
concerning the use of DEET?
- How is EPA changing cosmetic claims on
DEET product labels?
- Why is EPA changing child safety claims
on DEET product labels?
- What should consumers do in the event of
a potential reaction to DEET?
- What benefits do DEET products offer?
DEET (chemical name,
N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the active ingredient in many insect repellent
products. It is used to repel biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks,
including ticks that may carry Lyme disease. Every year, approximately
one-third of the U.S. population is expected to use DEET. Products containing
DEET currently are available to the public in a variety of liquids, lotions,
sprays, and impregnated materials (e.g., wrist bands). Formulations
registered for direct application to human skin contain from 4 to 100% DEET.
Except for a few veterinary uses, DEET is registered for use by consumers,
and it is not used on food.
DEET is designed for
direct application to human skin to repel insects, rather than kill them.
After it was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946, DEET was registered for use
by the general public in 1957. Approximately 230 products containing DEET are
currently registered with EPA by about 70 different companies.
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What is RED? EPA evaluates existing
pesticides that originally were registered when the standards for
government approval were less stringent. This comprehensive evaluation and
risk mitigation process is complete when EPA is satisfied that the
pesticide(s), used in accordance with approved labeling, will not pose
unreasonable risks to human health or the enviroment. EPA's regulatory
conclusoin about each case is presented in a document called a
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED). Later, once product-specific
data and revised labeling are submitted to EPA and approved, the Agency
reregisters products containing the eligible pesticide(s). A pesticide
product is not reregistered, however, until all of its active ingredients
are eligible for registration. |
2. What recent
decision did EPA make concerning the use of DEET?
EPA recently issued a
Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the chemical DEET. After
completing a comprehensive re- assessment of DEET, EPA concluded that, as
long as consumers follow label directions and take proper precautions, insect
repellents containing DEET do not present a health concern. Human exposure is
expected to be brief, and long-term exposure is not expected. Based on
extensive toxicity testing, the Agency believes that the normal use of DEET
does not present a health concern to the general population.
Most of the changes to
DEET registrations required by EPA concern label directions and claims. The Agency also is encouraging companies to provide a company
telephone number or toll-free number on all product labels for consumers to
call for additional product information and to report incidents. The Agency
has determined that registrants may distribute and sell DEET products bearing
old labels for 26 months from the date of issuance of the RED, and stores may
continue to sell these products for 50 months from the date of issuance.
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How
to use DEET products safely: Consumers can reduce their own risks when
using DEET by reading and following products labels. Statements on all DEET
product labels will be revised to include the following directions:
- Read and follow all
directions and precautions on this product label.
- Do not apply over
cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
- Do not apply to hands
or near eyes and mouth of young children.
- Do not allow young
children to apply this product.
- Use just enough
repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing.
- Do not use under
clothing.
- Avoid
over-application of this product.
- After returning
indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
- Wash treated clothing
before wearing it again.
- Use of this product
may cause skin reactions in rare cases. The following additional
statements will appear on the labels of all aerosol and pump spray
formulation labels:
- Do not spray in
enclosed areas.
- To
apply to face, spray on hands first and then rub on face. Do not spray
directly onto face.
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3. How is EPA
changing cosmetic claims on DEET product labels?
When DEET products make
cosmetic claims, EPA is requiring that labeling for insect repellency be
displayed prominently -- first on the label and in large, bold-faced type --
before cosmetic claims. The Agency is concerned that prominent cosmetic
claims on DEET labels distracts consumers from label directions that instruct
users to apply cautiously and sparingly.
4. Why is EPA
changing child safety claims on DEET product labels?
EPA is no longer allowing
child safety claims on product labels. These claims currently appear on
certain products containing a DEET concentration of 15% or less. The
scientific data on DEET do not support product label claims of child safety
based on the percentage of active ingredient.
5. What should
consumers do in the event of a potential reaction to DEET?
If you suspect that you
or your child is having an adverse reaction to this product, discontinue use
of the product, wash treated skin, and call your local poison control center
or physician for help. If you go to a doctor, take the repellent container
with you.
6. What benefits
do DEET products offer?
DEET's most significant
benefit is its ability to repel potentially disease-carrying insects and
ticks. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) receives nearly 10,000 reports
of Lyme disease (transmitted by deer ticks) and 1,000 reports of encephalitis
(transmitted by mosquitoes) annually. Both of these diseases can cause
serious health problems or even death in the case of encephalitis. Where
these diseases are endemic, the CDC recommends use of insect repellents when
out-of-doors. Studies submitted to EPA indicate that DEET repels ticks for
about three to eight hours, depending on the percentage of DEET in the
product.
For
More Information: For medical information, please call the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN)
 at 1-800-858-7378 (6:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Pacific Time, 7 days/week, except holidays). For a copy of
the RED, call EPA at (703) 305-5805, or for more information at (703)
305-5017. |
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