Is it Safe Mosquito Repellent?

Despite the many claims about the safety of mosquito repellent, some experts say that using it may harm you. It is up to you to make your own decision.

The first thing to do is to look at the active ingredients in the insect repellent. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) regulates the ingredients in these products. Several of the ingredients are approved for use on children, and others are not.

DEET is an effective mosquito repellent. However, it can cause some adverse effects on a child’s developing body, and it is not recommended for use on young children.

Another popular natural mosquito repellent is neem oil. Neem oil has been used in some parts of the world and has been found to be very effective against nuisance biting mosquitoes. It is best diluted with a carrier oil.

For the best protection, choose a product that offers a 10% concentration or less of DEET. In general, you will not need more than that amount of DEET.

For added protection, you can also try a product that contains Nootkatone oil, a compound that is made from the skin of grapefruit and cedar trees. Nootkatone oil has been found to be effective against many biting insects, including mosquitoes and bush flies.

A newer ingredient, picaridin, has been shown to be as effective as 10% DEET. Picaridin has a low odor and does not damage plastics. It has been used safely in several parts of the world since 1998.