Which mosquito repellents work best?
A wide variety of insect repellents are available. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using only products containing active ingredients that are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as repellents. [this page has recent updates about mosquito repellents]. Registered products have been reviewed and approved for safety and effectiveness when used according label instructions. According to the CDC, the most effective repellents contain one of the following EPA registered active ingredients: DEET ((N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) Picaridin (KBR 3023) Oil of lemon eucalyptus, (p-menthane 3, 8-diol) a plant based repellent, is also registered with the EPA. Two recent studies have shown that oil of lemon eucalyptus products provide protection similar to repellents with a low concentration of DEET.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using products that have been shown to work in scientific trials and that contain active ingredients which have been registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as insect repellents on skin or clothing. When the EPA registers a repellent, they evaluate the product for efficacy and potential effects on human beings and the environment. EPA registration means that EPA does not expect a product, when used according to the instructions on the label, to cause unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment. Of the active ingredients registered with the EPA, the CDC believes that two have demonstrated a higher degree of efficacy in the peer-reviewed, scientific literature. Products containing these active ingredients typically provide longer-lasting protection than others: • DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) • Picaridin (KBR 3023) Oil of lemon eucalyptus [active ingredient: p-menthane 3,8-
A. CDC recommends using products that have been shown to work in scientific trials and that contain active ingredients which have been registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as insect repellents on skin or clothing. When EPA registers a repellent, they evaluate the product for efficacy and potential effects on human beings and the environment. EPA registration means that EPA does not expect a product, when used according to the instructions on the label, to cause unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment.
