DEET is a toxic ingredient that is used in many insect repellent products. DEET has proven to be effective. However, many people are highly sensitive to DEET based insect repellent products and it is well documented in the medical literature that DEET can cause various adverse reactions, including, eye irritations and skin reactions. There are four ways that people can be exposed to DEET: absorption through the skin or eyes, breathing or ingesting products containing DEET. DEET can be found in the blood for up to 12 hours after application to the skin.
What is the DEET?
The chemical name of DEET is N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide or diethytoluamide in short. The molecular formula of DEET is C12H17NO. DEET repels mosquitoes, ticks, and other arthropods when applied to skin or clothing. DEET has a greasy feel and a chemical smell. DEET is a solvent so it can damage plastics and other synthetic materials such as clothing, glasses and jewelry.
The biggest disadvantage with DEET is that it is a toxic substance. Case reports of toxicity from DEET have been well documented in the medical literature and range from rashes, dizziness, headache, nausea and in rare cases death. In addition, several of the reported cases of significant toxicity from DEET are in children under the age of eight. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued certain precautions regarding the use of DEET on children.
What alternatives are there to using DEET products?
Natural insect repelling oils are effective against mosquitoes and other insects. The distinctive scent of certain oils make it difficult for insects to locate a host. The biggest advantage of using natural oils as insect repellents is that they have no known side effects and are deemed safe.
Our products are DEET-free
Evergreen Products uses a unique way to prepare insect repellents with the help of natural, non-toxic oils. Our non-toxic insect repellent products are made by injecting a specifically crafted blend of natural oils know for their insect repelling properties into molded plastic. The molded infused plastic comes in different shapes: wristbands, bracelets, round buttons, and discs. The oils that are used in Evergreen's products are listed in the United States Environmental Protection Agency Federal Registry list of minimum risk pesticides. The active ingredients contained in this list are a special class of pesticides that are not subject to federal registration requirements because the ingredients are demonstrably safe for their intended use
With any questions regarding our products please feel free to contact one of our specialists to get all your answers
