What is Diethyltoluamide used for?

DEET (chemical name, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the active ingredient in many repellent products. It is widely used to repel biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks.

Why is DEET so effective?

DEET works to confuse and interfere with the receptors on a mosquito’s antennae, which deters mosquitoes from landing on the skin and biting. These receptors are used to detect body heat, carbon dioxide and skin chemicals when seeking out prey.

What is the purpose of insect repellent?

Spray-on insect repellents, for example, simply make people less attractive to the pest. To prevent bug bites from pests like mosquitoes and fleas, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents.

How does insect repellent work?

The chemicals in bug spray cover up the “scent” of carbon dioxide, so hunting insects can’t find you. Along with covering your scent, most bug sprays smell repulsive to bugs, which further dissuades them from coming near you.

What happens if you inhale insect repellent?

Breathing difficulty. Coughing. Loss of alertness (stupor), from the blood oxygen level being out of balance. Tremors (if a large amount is swallowed)

Is Diethyltoluamide a drug?

Diethyltoluamide is an insect repellant, also known as DEET. Diethyltoluamide (DEET) is the common active ingredient in many insect repellent products. It is widely used to repel biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks.

How effective is DEET against ticks?

DEET is an approved repellent for skin application, however exposure to high concentrations of DEET can pose some limited health hazards. DEET by itself tested between 85\% to 89\% effective at repelling ticks (DEET does not kill either ticks or mosquitoes) and 97\% against mosquitoes.

What does mosquito repellent do?

How do insect repellents work? Mosquitoes and ticks are attracted to skin odors and the carbon dioxide we exhale. They also use heat, movement, and visual cues to find a possible host. Repellents affect an insect’s senses such as smell and taste to prevent it from finding a human or animal host.