Q: Everyone says that the DEET in bug spray is awful, but my own research seems to suggest that it’s well-tested and safe. Am I giving myself a little bit of cancer every time I use it?

Common bug sprays may affect the formation of egg cells during pregnancy, scientists have warned. DEET, chemically named N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, is an active ingredient in many insect repellents.

Scientists understand how certain repellents like DEET work at the molecular level, but for many of them, it is still unknown why exactly they repel mosquitoes. Testing repellents.

B efore 1957, when DEET (aka, the active ingredient in many repellent products) became available to the public, repellents made from natural ingredients were the go-to for avoiding mosquito bites ...

Scientists understand how certain repellents like DEET work at the molecular level, but for many of them, it is still unknown why exactly they repel mosquitoes. Testing repellents.

How do DEET and other chemicals repel mosquitoes? How exactly DEET works is still a subject of debate, says Aaron Gross, a toxicologist at Virginia Tech’s Molecular Physiology & Toxicology ...

Plus, DEET has a history of long-lasting mosquito protection, and is still in use today. Exhibit A: The U.S. Department of Agriculture originally developed DEET for the U.S. Army as a way to help ...

DEET and picaridin offer higher protection levels at the same or higher strength formulations. Potential Risks of Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus Extract Generally, OLE is safe for use.

Use the right repellents. As far as skin repellents go, nothing beats products containing a chemical called DEET (N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET repels a host of insects including mosquitoes ...