Conscious Choice: Using Healthy Insect Repellents

June 2004 | Co-op America’s Living Green

Using Healthy Insect Repellents

Dear Co-op America, I’ve heard mosquito repellents containing DEET are potentially very toxic. Are there any non-DEET alternatives that work as well? — Bitten up in Michigan

YOU’RE RIGHT to be concerned about DEET. The EPA maintains that DEET is only “slightly toxic.” However, a recent study by Duke University pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia details an extensive list of neurological harms caused by DEET and other conventional insecticides, from memory loss to tremors to slurred speech. The study also found DEET caused brain cell death and severe behavioral changes in rats.

While DEET does provide the longest-lasting protection against bites, a 2002 study in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that many non-DEET repellents containing natural ingredients (including citronella, cedar, peppermint, lemongrass, geranium and soybean) were just as effective at keeping mosquitoes at bay. The catch is that one application won’t protect you as long as DEET will, so you’ll have to reapply more frequently.

The NEJM study found soybean oil to be the most effective natural repellent. The difference was that DEET’s repelling capabilities lasted longer than the soybean oil — 301 minutes to 94.6 minutes. Green Ban (319-446-7495, available at www.ediblenature.com) provides plant-based, chemical-free insect repellents containing soybean oil. And Bite Blocker (800-805-BITE, www.biteblocker.com) offers another DEET-free, all natural, soybean-based repellent. A study by researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, found that Bite Blocker reduced mosquito bites by 97-99.2 percent, competitive with OFF! Skintastic repellent, containing 6.65 percent DEET, which reduced bites by 85-100 percent. (Repellents with 100 percent DEET were more effective than OFF! Skintastic.)

The NEJM study found that citronella (widely available in candles, incense, and lamp oil) and other natural oils also provided sufficient protection against mosquitoes when applied to the skin, although for a much shorter period of time (about 20 minutes) than DEET. A follow-up NEJM study found that eucalyptus was also effective, lasting anywhere from 60-217 minutes.

To enjoy the benefits of citronella and eucalyptus, as well as other essential oils, try Jade and Pearl’s “Beat It! Bug Buster” (800-219-9765, www.jadeandpearl.com). The spray combines citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass and other natural ingredients in a base of aloe vera and coconut oil.

Remember, before you use any product containing essential oils, first try a small amount on a patch of skin to check for allergic reactions. You may also want to consult with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

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