Organic Insecticides | Organic Pesticides | EcoSMART Bug Spray

Organic Mosquito Repellent: How Do They Measure Up To DEET?

March 8th, 2010 Posted in Mosquitoes & Repellent

Going “green” used to be a concern of tree huggers and hippies, but today people of all backgrounds are becoming part of the organic craze. Mosquitoes have plagued mankind as a pest and vessel of disease since the beginning. Because of this problem many control methods have been developed to help stop them as a nuisance.

Pesticides and insecticides that contain DEET are helpful in controlling mosquitoes, but the side effects may not be worth the pesticides effectiveness. Organic pesticides and insecticides are the only alternative method of control that is both safe and effective for use against mosquitoes.

This article will discuss:

• The History Behind DEET
• The Downsides of DEET
• The Organic Alternative

The History Behind DEET

DEET is the most common active ingredient found in chemical pesticides and insecticides today. It was originally developed by the United States Army in 1946 for use in World War II. It was used throughout Vietnam and parts of Southeast Asia. It was meant to be used for jungle warfare, but 11 years later the military discontinued its use.

It then became available for use by the consumer in 1957, as a pesticide used to control bugs on farms and private properties. DEET insect repellents have proven to be widely successful in the control of mosquitoes and other insects. Chemical pesticides and insecticides containing DEET are most often used by farmers to protect their crops from various insects.

DEET works by blocking receptors in a mosquito’s antenna and as a result this blockage kills the mosquito. Learning about DEET is important because it is so widely used throughout America as one of the main methods of insect control.

The Downsides of DEET

At the end of the day DEET isn’t as helpful as it seems. DEET has some harmful side effects that may make you rethink using it for your own personal pest control. These downsides include:

• DEET needs to be reapplied to continue working because it quickly evaporates off your skin
• When applied directly to the skin it can be absorbed and cause negative short-term and long-term health effects
• Chemical pesticides and insecticides with DEET often have a fairly strong smell
• Products made with DEET can melt clothing with nylon fibers
• It can block enzymes in your central nervous system from functioning properly in high enough doses
• DEET can be absorbed into the environment and cause problems throughout the entire food chain
• Some DEET products are unsafe to use around pets and children because of a higher sensitivity to its effects

The Organic Alternative

To kill two birds with one stone use EcoSMART’s organic insect repellent for total control of mosquitoes and other pests. EcoSMART’s products are made with all natural ingredients that are naturally repellent and only target receptors found in mosquitoes and other insects.

This leaves the environment, your pets, and your family safe when using our organic bug repellent. Using organic pesticides and insecticides are an effective way to repel and kill mosquitoes on contact and protect your family from the downsides of DEET based pesticides and insecticides.