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Safe Bug Spray for Kids: The “Buzz” on Chemical and Plant-Based Repellents

The Quick Facts: Because of the potential harm that biting insects may bring, it is important that an insect repellent be not only safe, but effective. But before you douse yourself and your children in bug spray, consider the toxicity of the active ingredients in the insect repellent. Most chemical-based insect repellents have been found by the EPA to be slightly toxic to humans, even when applied as directed. Plant-based insect repellents are nontoxic and safe. Plant-based repellents are also as effective (against mosquitoes in the United States) as common chemical-based repellents, but may be effective for a shorter period of time.

Summertime is here! So are the bugs. Biting bugs. Some carrying diseases. But we won’t let them get us down! We’ll cover ourselves in bug spray and head into the great outdoors! We should just be careful that what we’re using to repel the buggers doesn’t harm us and our kids more than any little bug could.

Bug and Bug Spray Safety
Because of the potential harm that biting insects may bring (from West Nile Virus to Lyme Disease to Eastern Equine Encephalitis, as well as diseases found outside of the United States, such as Malaria and Dengue), it is important that an insect repellent be effective. Still, while we want our bug spray to be effective we also want it to be safe for our children.

The active ingredients in bug sprays counter the attraction that insects have to our skin odor and the carbon dioxide that we exhale, thereby making it less likely that we’ll get bitten. Most chemical-based insect repellents have been found by the EPA to be slightly toxic, even when applied as directed. Many plant-based insect repellents, particularly oil of lemon eucalyptus and soybean oil have been found to be just as effective (against mosquitoes in the United States) as common chemical-based repellents, with the only difference being that the duration of the efficacy is shorter with the plant-based repellents.

As a parent, when choosing an insect repellent, we must weigh the risk of chemical exposure with the risk of exposure to insect-borne diseases. We must consider the types of pests our children may be exposed to (not all products repel all insects), the amount of time they may be outside and exposed to the pests, and the risks of insect-borne diseases in the area in which we live. We hope that the detailed information below may help you in making your choice.

Here’s the “buzz” on the active ingredients found in many insect repellents:

Chemical-Containing Insect Repellents:

The Buzz on DEET-containing products
Many commonly available insect repellents contain N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, and commonly known as DEET. DEET-containing insect repellents are among the most effective mosquito repellents available. They also repel a variety of other insects, including ticks. DEET is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use when there is a need to prevent insect-borne diseases. These institutions also note that a DEET product with a concentration of 10% appears to be as effective as those with DEET concentrations of 30% (the maximum concentration recommended for children), with the only difference being that higher concentrations remain effective for longer periods of time. The AAP recommends that repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET when used on children.

In 1998, the EPA completed a “comprehensive” safety review of DEET and found that, “as long as consumers follow label directions and take proper precautions, insect repellents containing DEET do not present a health concern.” Note, however, that the EPA’s technical factsheet on DEET reports that in studies using laboratory animals, DEET generally has been shown to be of low acute toxicity, and is slightly toxic by the eye, dermal (skin) and oral routes.

The AAP, CDC, and EPA all provide extensive advice on how to safely use DEET-containing products:

The Buzz on Picaridin—containing products
Picaridin (KBR 3023) is another chemical-based insect repellent that has been found to be effective against biting flies, mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks and fleas. Like, DEET, Picaridin has been characterized by the EPA as being slightly toxic by the eye, dermal (skin) and oral routes. EPA advice on how to safely use Picaridin-containing products is similar to that given for DEET-containing products. The AAP has not yet issued specific recommendations or opinions concerning the use of Picaridin for children.

The Buzz on IR3535-containing products
Although chemically synthesized, 3-[N-Butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester, also known as IR3535, is noted by the EPA to be “structurally related to _-alanine,” which occurs naturally. As a repellent, it targets mosquitoes, deer ticks, body lice, and biting flies. The EPA has found it to be effective. One scientific study we found concluded it was effective for approximately 3 hours, while another scientific study concluded that it was effective for less than 25 minutes. The EPA reports that toxicity tests show it is not harmful when ingested, inhaled, or used on skin. The only precaution offered is that eye irritation could occur if the chemical enters a person’s eyes. The AAP has not yet issued specific recommendations or opinion concerning the use of 3-[N-Butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester for children.

Plant-derived Insect Repellents:

The Buzz on oil of lemon eucalyptus-containing products
Oil of lemon eucalyptus [para-Menthane-3,8-diol (PMD)] occurs naturally in the lemon eucalyptus plant. The natural oil can be extracted from the eucalyptus leaves and twigs. For commercial use, the active ingredient is chemically synthesized into p-Menthane-3,8-diol. The CDC reports that in two recent scientific publications, when repellents containing oil of lemon eucalyptus were tested against mosquitoes found in the U.S. they provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET (same protection, but effective for shorter periods of time than products containing higher concentrations of DEET). Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus are also cited as effective as repellents against biting flies and gnats. The EPA reports that studies on laboratory animals show that oil of lemon eucalyptus has no adverse effects except for eye irritation and is not expected to pose health risks to children. The only precaution given for oil of lemon eucalyptus is to avoid getting the product in eyes.

In light of the facts associated with oil of lemon eucalyptus, those of you with very small children may be disappointed to learn that, according to the label, oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years of age. In our research, we could not find a reason for this limitation. The AAP has not yet issued specific recommendations or opinion concerning the use of oil of lemon eucalyptus for children.

The Buzz on Citronella-containing products
Oil of Citronella is derived from dried cultivated grasses. Oil of Citronella repels mosquitoes, black flies, fleas and ticks. The EPA reports that in studies using laboratory animals, Oil of Citronella shows little or no toxicity, and that despite its extensive use since 1948, Oil of Citronella has had no reports of adverse effects of concern. Oil of Citronella is considered so unlikely to cause harmful effects that some citronella products are exempt from the usual regulation. The only precaution given is concern for possible skin irritation. The EPA has found Oil of Citronella to be an effective repellent, but a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that citronella-based insect repellents provided protection for less than twenty minutes. Oil of Citronella, like oil of lemon eucalyptus, is not to be used on children under 3 years of age. The AAP has not yet issued specific recommendations or opinion concerning the use of Oil of Citronella for children.

The Buzz on soybean oil-containing products
The CDC reports that repellents containing soybean oil as the active ingredient provided protection against mosquitoes that was similar to repellents with 4.75% DEET (approximately 90 minutes of protection). According to the EPA, there are no adverse effects to humans expected from the use of soybean oil in repellents. There are no age restrictions regarding the use of insect repellents containing soybean oil. The AAP has not yet issued specific recommendations or opinion concerning the use of soybean oil for children.

** This article is revised and updated from the original version, which appeared in Real Mama’s Summer 2006 Newsletter.

Information used in this article was found at the following sources, which you can visit if you want to find out more about this topic:

http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/e200399v1 (AAP News article entitled, “Follow safety precautions when using DEET on children,” from the AAP Committee on Environmental Health)

http://www.aap.org/family/wnv-jun05.htm (AAP News article entitled, “DEET Alternatives Considered to be Effective Mosquito Repellents”)

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/deet.htm (EPA, Pesticides: Topical and Chemical Fact Sheet on “The Insect Repellent DEET.”)

http://www.epa.gov/opprd001/factsheets/picaridin.pdf (EPA, New Pesticide Fact Sheet: Picaridin)

http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_011550.htm (EPA, Pesticides: Regulating Pesticides; p-Menthane-3,8-diol (011550) Fact Sheet)

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/repellentupdates.htm (CDC, “Updated Information Regarding Insect Repellents,” May 8, 2008)

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm (CDC, “Insect Repellent Use and Safety”)

http://content.nejm.org/content/vol347/issue1/images/large/04t1.jpeg (New England Journal of Medicine; table summarizing scientific study of different products with different active ingredients and the complete protection time each product provided against mosquitoes)

http://fcs.tamu.edu/Health/family_health/insect_repellent.php (providing table summarizing Consumer Report findings regarding efficacy of different insect repellents, as well as whether they repel mosquitoes and/or ticks)

http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/illness/insect_repellents.html (medical website; webpage discussing insect repellents)

http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/keepingkidssafe/repellents.htm (Canadian children’s health website developed by the Canadian Pediatric Society; webpage discussing insect repellents for children)

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/medicine_cabinet/insect_repellents.html (children’s health website; webpage discussing insect repellents)

http://lcmcd.org/relellents.pdf (Scientific study on insect repellents: “Comparative Efficacy on Insect Repellents Against Mosquitos,” by Mark S. Fradin, M.D. and John F. Day, Ph.D.)

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/esa/jme/2002/00000039/00000006/art00014 (Scientific study on insect repellents: “Repellency of IR3535, KBR3023, para-menthane-3,8-diol, and Deet to Black Salt Marsh Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Everglades National Park,” by Barnard D.R.; Bernier U.R.; Posey K.H.; Xue R-D.)


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