DEET Mosquito Repellents Linked to Brain Damage

DEET, or diethyl-meta-toluamide, by any other name still stinks. The main ingredient in most commercial mosquito repellents has been linked by Duke University researchers to brain cell damage, harmful interactions with some medications, and behavioural changes. The lead researcher and pharmacologist on the study observed brain cell death and behavioural changes in animals exposed to DEET after frequent and prolonged use.

Another study showed that up to fifteen percent of DEET is directly absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. Considering the toxic effects of diethyl-meta-toluamide listed in material safety data sheets, which include: reproductive disturbances, genetic material mutations, and central nervous system disorders, that’s a scary amount.

Mohamed Abou-Donia, PhD, has been researching the effects of chemicals on the brains of rats for over 30 years. He’s discovered, in two separate studies, that the frequent and prolonged applications of DEET cause neurons to die in regions of the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory, and concentration. He also found that rats treated with a comparable human dose of DEET (40mg/kg of body weight) performed far worse than control rats when challenged with physical tasks required muscle control, strength, and coordination. The animals in his studies experienced physical symptoms consistent with those experienced by Persian Gulf War veterans, according to Abou-Donia.

Even U.S. Evironmental Protection Agency (EPA) toxicologist Michael Watson has reported an instance “where exposure to DEET caused six cases of brain damage in girls aged one through six – and three of them died.”

If you’re spraying yourself or your family members with DEET-based mosquito repellents, it’s time to reconsider.

Check out my article 6 Ways to Beat Mosquitoes Naturally.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

KS G.

4:25AM PST on Nov 23, 2011

Thanks for the article.

send a green star

Chris R.

9:44AM PDT on Oct 5, 2011

Good to know, thanks!~

caterina c.

2:55PM PDT on Aug 8, 2011

many thanks

Gypsy W.

4:25PM PDT on Jun 22, 2011

I think i'd rather be covered in mosquito bites than be brain damaged..this stuff needs to be off the market for good..there are natural ways to repel mosquitos.

Alicia N.

10:30AM PDT on Jun 11, 2011

thanks for this important info.

Morgan B.

3:29PM PDT on Jun 10, 2011

Firstly, eucalyptus naturally deters mosquitoes, and unlike a chemical such as DEET, it can evolve to beat the bugs who build an immunity against it (and they do.)
Secondly, I've heard that DEET also builds in your spine. Does anyone know what that might do?

pat B.

10:48AM PDT on Jun 10, 2011

Sometimes that is a requirement to use DEET. Alternative is Malaria for life .I only use it in the tropics at night. It is a choice that I made to avoid malaria . It may even be good against Dengue fever which is also a lifetime disease.