Clipping Board » Life Tips ─ Life is also a subject of study...
Update Date: 2009/08/06 00:07 [AFP, Paris, 5th Central News Agency]
A study released today shows that DEET, the most common compound in insect repellents worldwide, affects the human central nervous system similarly to certain insecticides and nerve gases. However, researchers noted that moderate use is likely safe.
Yet, experiments on insects and enzymes extracted from the nerve cells of mice and humans have for the first time demonstrated that DEET interferes with the normal functioning of the nervous system. Researchers stated that further experiments are "urgently needed" to assess the potential toxicity of DEET to humans, particularly when mixed with other chemical ingredients.
Developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists after World War II, DEET has been used as an insect repellent for over 50 years. Marketed in liquid, cream, and spray forms with concentrations ranging from 5% to 100%, it is not only widely used by outdoor campers but also serves as a frontline defense against mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
According to the study published in the journal BMC Biology, approximately 200 million people use products containing DEET annually.
Vincent Corbel, the lead author of the study and a researcher at the Montpellier Development Research Center in France, said, "It has been used for many years, but only now has new research shown that it may be toxic."
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……rl/ d/ a/ 090806/ 128/ 1ofmh. html
Update Date: 2009/08/06 04:09 [International News Center, Liu Liren, Hong Suqing, Wang Menglun / Comprehensive Report]
According to the latest research published in the journal *BMC Biology*, DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide), the most common ingredient in insect repellents, has chemical effects on the central nervous system of mammals comparable to certain insecticides and nerve gases.
This discovery has raised concerns among scientists that DEET-containing repellents may have negative effects on humans. However, there is still debate over whether the findings—based on studies of insects, mice, and human nerve cells in test tubes—can be directly applied to humans.
**Not Recommended for Infants Under One Year Old**
Lin Jieliang, director of the Clinical Toxicology Department at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, pointed out that two or three years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held an expert meeting on DEET. After reviewing 50 years of experience and research reports, the EPA concluded that DEET remains the best mosquito repellent ingredient discovered to date—"superior to so-called natural or other synthetic repellents." This new study merely explains the mechanism behind these neurological symptoms.
Lin emphasized that the key to using DEET-containing mosquito repellents is proper application. For instance, infants under one year old should not use them. When applying repellent to children, adults should first spray it on their own hands and then apply it to the child’s skin to avoid accidental ingestion or contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes. It should not be applied to areas with allergic dermatitis or open wounds. After outdoor activities, it should be washed off with soap.
Additionally, DEET may increase absorption when used with sunscreen, so repellent should be applied first and allowed to dry for 30 minutes before applying sunscreen.
Yuan Shaoying, director of the Toxic Substances Management Division at Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration, stated that 14 environmental products containing DEET are currently approved, and manufacturers must clearly label them as not for direct contact with the human body. Industry representatives noted that DEET-based repellents typically include warnings against direct spraying on the skin.
Lin added that natural essential oils can also have neurotoxic effects and may cause allergic reactions. Moreover, their quality is inconsistent, and their repellent efficacy is poor, leaving users at risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
DEET was developed by the U.S. military in 1946 based on jungle warfare experience during World War II. Products containing DEET are available in liquid, cream, and spray forms. Globally, 200 million people use DEET-based repellents annually, and over the past 50 years, 8 billion DEET-containing products have been sold.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 090806/ 78/ 1og0p. html
DEET's Neurotoxicity Comparable to Nerve Gas
A study released today shows that DEET, the most common compound in insect repellents worldwide, affects the human central nervous system similarly to certain insecticides and nerve gases. However, researchers noted that moderate use is likely safe.
Yet, experiments on insects and enzymes extracted from the nerve cells of mice and humans have for the first time demonstrated that DEET interferes with the normal functioning of the nervous system. Researchers stated that further experiments are "urgently needed" to assess the potential toxicity of DEET to humans, particularly when mixed with other chemical ingredients.
Developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists after World War II, DEET has been used as an insect repellent for over 50 years. Marketed in liquid, cream, and spray forms with concentrations ranging from 5% to 100%, it is not only widely used by outdoor campers but also serves as a frontline defense against mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
According to the study published in the journal BMC Biology, approximately 200 million people use products containing DEET annually.
Vincent Corbel, the lead author of the study and a researcher at the Montpellier Development Research Center in France, said, "It has been used for many years, but only now has new research shown that it may be toxic."
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……rl/ d/ a/ 090806/ 128/ 1ofmh. html
Animal Testing: DEET in Repellents Harms Nerves
According to the latest research published in the journal *BMC Biology*, DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide), the most common ingredient in insect repellents, has chemical effects on the central nervous system of mammals comparable to certain insecticides and nerve gases.
This discovery has raised concerns among scientists that DEET-containing repellents may have negative effects on humans. However, there is still debate over whether the findings—based on studies of insects, mice, and human nerve cells in test tubes—can be directly applied to humans.
**Not Recommended for Infants Under One Year Old**
Lin Jieliang, director of the Clinical Toxicology Department at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, pointed out that two or three years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held an expert meeting on DEET. After reviewing 50 years of experience and research reports, the EPA concluded that DEET remains the best mosquito repellent ingredient discovered to date—"superior to so-called natural or other synthetic repellents." This new study merely explains the mechanism behind these neurological symptoms.
Lin emphasized that the key to using DEET-containing mosquito repellents is proper application. For instance, infants under one year old should not use them. When applying repellent to children, adults should first spray it on their own hands and then apply it to the child’s skin to avoid accidental ingestion or contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes. It should not be applied to areas with allergic dermatitis or open wounds. After outdoor activities, it should be washed off with soap.
Additionally, DEET may increase absorption when used with sunscreen, so repellent should be applied first and allowed to dry for 30 minutes before applying sunscreen.
Yuan Shaoying, director of the Toxic Substances Management Division at Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration, stated that 14 environmental products containing DEET are currently approved, and manufacturers must clearly label them as not for direct contact with the human body. Industry representatives noted that DEET-based repellents typically include warnings against direct spraying on the skin.
Lin added that natural essential oils can also have neurotoxic effects and may cause allergic reactions. Moreover, their quality is inconsistent, and their repellent efficacy is poor, leaving users at risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
DEET was developed by the U.S. military in 1946 based on jungle warfare experience during World War II. Products containing DEET are available in liquid, cream, and spray forms. Globally, 200 million people use DEET-based repellents annually, and over the past 50 years, 8 billion DEET-containing products have been sold.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 090806/ 78/ 1og0p. html