A Question About DEET.....

M

maury

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Sep 24, 2000
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Recently came back from vacation in Latin America - had packed several insect repelants ranging from a "mild" citronella based one to a 30% DEET. Although the DEET was packed in a factory sealed bottle, I wrapped it (and the others) in individual plastic bags and then packed them all in another plastic bag for the flight down Anyway, when I got to insect country, I unwrapped the package and was really suprised to see that a tiny bit of DEET that had leaked during the trip had actually eaten through the plastic.

So, here's my concern: if the stuff is caustic enough to eat through plastic, is it, inspite of all the recomendations we read, something safe to use on skin? Seems kinda scary stuff. Any one have any info on this aspect of DEET?

By the way, I found that stuff called "Cactus Juice" worked really well. We traveled in Guatemala and Honduras, in areas that had warnings for Dengue fever warnings, and no problems.
 
My chemical dictionary lists DEET as "N,N-diethyl-n-toluidine," used also as a resin solvent. The hazard is with toluidine. O-toluidine is an animal carcinogen; m-toluidine is not; n-toluidine is not described.

I suspect it is bad/borderline really bad, but still better than getting bug-borne diseases.

I think the bottles DEET comes in are polyethylene, or maybe teflon. You should be able to get solvent-proof bags through, e.g., National Bag Co. I'd be careful for dissolving Gore-Tex, etc. too.

Scott
 
Higher concentration DEET is well known for eating nylon. Some people are sensitive to DEET, others are not. When in doubt about it's effect on a piece of clothing, test it first. Similarly, test your skin for various concentrations.

It's the best chemical currently available that is believed generally safe. That doesn't mean it is absolutely safe. But very little of anything is. Balance your risks, as in all things. I personally find it to be a worthwhile chemical.

Phil
 
Bought some 90% concentration of DEET a few years ago. Mosquitos were biting thru our clothes, so we went and got this stuff. I think it was Deep Woods Off. Incredibly effective. Skeeters skedaddled from us wherever we went. Gal with us had on some of those nylon stretch pants and they got eaten to oblivion. Which was okay, she bein' a hottie and all.

Anyways, I have sort of sensitive skin, so I was concerned what effect this stuff might have. However, I slathered it on anyways cuz I KNEW mosquitos were gonna remove all my flesh if I didn't. None of us, including myself, had any problem with that concentration. You just gotta be incredibly careful as to what you touch while you are coated. Sandwich bags were one of the things I remember almost disintegrating to the touch.

Safety? Adverse effects? Haven't had any bad reaction to the stuff myself. I've been using it for years and it's made me what I am today. Who knows, use a bunch yourself and it might make YOU what I am today.
 
I personally think the danger is from the fact that it is an organic solvent. Basically, it dissolves lots of things and goes through your skin, carrying those things with it.

If you are, say, camping, this probably means you will only have the usual dirt etc. in contact with DEET. I would guess you would be at higher risk in an urban setting, where who knows what kinds of chemicals could go into solution and through your skin.

Scott

PS: my original reply included a likely typo in my chem. dictionary - I don't think there is an n-toluinide; I think it was supposed to be m-.
 
Is that like DMSO, or whatever the letters are? The one that is basically a topical delivery system? If so, I can see that I will have to make sure that I got no sunscreen or lotion or who knows what applied beforehand.
 
"Is that like DMSO, . . . basically a topical delivery system?"

I think so. You will probably end up with suncreen in your blood, even if you do put the DEET on beforehand.

None of this means you will die of cancer just because you used bug juice your whole life. In fact, I would worry a lot more about all the diseases that can be gotten from various rodents and insects than getting 'toxified to death' or 'mutated to death' by my (FDA approved) bug spray.

I suppose the prudent thing to do would be to sweat it out in long sleeves and a net, using the chemicals sparingly. After all, the FDA has changed its mind before.

Scott
 
I thought that you were supposed to apply deet to your clothes instead of your skin. Is that right?
 
Just drink the stuff and let it work it's way out to your skin... (Just kidding!!!)

I'd like to hear more about this cactus juice stuff.
 
I am also interested in the Cactus Juice product mentioned.

My luck it's peyote based. Injest internally then after 45 minutes you can simply ask the mosquitos to quit biting you. This after BSing the skeeters about the cars they are driving and could they please tell the elves to sing quieter when they fly by.
 
I don't think any of the normal vendors (like OFF and Cutter) make DEET available at 90% in the USA, maybe overseas ... highest I've seen is in the low 40% range.

DEET is a solvent, in a manner similar to the way more typical stuff like acetone or MEK or toluene are solvents. It isn't "caustic" in the classic sense of eating things like Lye (drain opener). It just dissolves stuff, dis-solves, i.e. solvent.

I have an el-cheapo Timex watch (with compass!) I wear bike riding, and DEET ruined the plastic "crystal" on that watch. Well, I ruined it by applying DEET to said el-cheapo watch. DOAP!

DEET doesn't really repel mosquitoes per se, from what I've read. What is appears to do is to confuse them. Many biting insects home in on their pray by the sensing carbon dioxide that we emit as a part of our biological process, including breathing. They sense CO2, assume a meal is available on that producer, and land and bite. DEET appears to interfere with their ability to sense CO2 somehow. So they don't make the total CO2 sensing connection when they get close to you so they don't land for lunch.

Those $500 "Mosquito Magnet" machines available now make use of this phenomenon to lure in mosquitos with a tempting stream of CO2 along with supposedly some kind of pheromone, and then they get trapped in a net and dehydrate to death. Clever.

DEET does wear off... the strong stuff only lasts ~ 4-6 hours. The weak stuff (9.5%) about an hour or so. Seems like I saw some time released stuff. For protecting little kids, only use the weak stuff due to children's sensitivity (reactions).

Putting DEET on clothing is certainly a better idea than on flesh, but hey, it's still sweltering here in Houston, so you do what you gotta with West Nile and all...
 
Originally posted by beezaur
I personally think the danger is from the fact that it is an organic solvent. Basically, it dissolves lots of things and goes through your skin, carrying those things with it.

Scott
Click to expand...

Good point. For example, you wouldn't want to have DEET all over and then get an herbicide or insecticide (ant poison!) all over your arms or hands.
 
I have used Jungle Juice (%90 DEET) for years. You can get it at REI, it comes in a clear bottle with a green cap.

I did have one problem with it once. I had put some on my arms and normaly it dries and stays put. However on this particular day it was hot and I was sweaty. Because of this the DEET did not dry and migrated to my hands and then my face through random contact. My lips then became red and sore like they had been sunburned. I washed my face off and by the next day my lips were back to normal. Luckly I didn't get any in my eyes.

Now if the bugs arn't too bad and for my kids I use Cutters which comes in a stick and is only 10% DEET.
 
I've had pretty good results with the higher % concentration of DEET (Ben's and Cutter). However, I've had the same problem with it messing up my watch bands. I haven't run into a problem yet with kydex sheaths or holsters, but I've been pretty careful so far. I've seen posts indicating that DEET is pretty hard on certain composition knife handles too. Like most things, it's a trade off.
Jim
 
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