Picaridin? DEET? What's the difference?
The Minor Heat solar term has passed, and the hottest伏天 (dog days) have arrived. Mosquitoes are now a major summer pest that causes widespread annoyance. To repel mosquitoes, many people bring out various anti-mosquito weapons: mosquito repellent pads, flower dew (a type of traditional Chinese herbal preparation), mosquito sprays, electric mosquito swatters, mosquito-repellent stickers, mosquito-repellent bracelets... Various new and old mosquito prevention devices come into play... Among these products, mosquito-repellent flower dew is popular due to its pleasant fragrance and effective movement-based mosquito repellency, maintaining high sales.
While mosquito repellency is important, safety cannot be overlooked.
Mosquito product labels confuse consumers
On the supermarket shelves for mosquito repellent products, I saw that Liushen mosquito-repellent flower dew labels indicate it contains 4.5% picaridin, while Johnson's Baby mosquito repellent indicates it contains 11.5% picaridin. On the other hand, Longliqi mosquito-repellent flower dew labels indicate it contains 5% DEET, Ouhu mosquito repellent spray indicates 7% DEET, and BaiseLing "Silent No Mosquito" mosquito-repellent flower dew contains 8% DEET. These similar yet distinct chemical names truly make consumers feel overwhelmed. Is there a difference between DEET and picaridin?
A quick search on Wikipedia reveals very specific introductions. It turns out that both DEET and picaridin belong to the category of repellents. DEET, abbreviated as DEET, is a widely used insecticide. Picaridin, on the other hand, is a broad-spectrum, highly efficient insect repellent. Compared to DEET, picaridin has the characteristics of higher safety and less irritation.
In addition, the safety of mosquito repellent products is also very important. The continuous emergence of food additive safety issues has already drawn high attention from all sectors of society, and the safety of mosquito repellent products should also attract attention. Choosing a good mosquito repellent product should not merely focus on effectiveness but also on safety. For example, the long-selling Liushen mosquito-repellent flower dew has become the summer first choice for many citizens due to its variety of fragrances, diverse packaging specifications, and good reputation.
However, when observing the mosquito repellent products in the market, it becomes apparent that the labeled components vary greatly, and even the component content differs. So, which one is the safest and most effective? How much do we know about the safety of mosquito repellent components? This is especially important for ordinary people who have been confused by various additives and can no longer afford further harm.
Recently, a parenting-related online post revealed strong doubts about the use of DEET in infants and young children. It turns out that some meticulous mothers discovered negative reports about DEET in recent years and questioned its safety. They even cited relevant standards from abroad, pointing out DEET’s neurotoxicity, encephalopathy, skin irritation, and environmental hazards. In fact, this debate is not a recent development. Many years ago, countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan had explicitly banned the use of DEET in products for young children. Fortunately, there are no such restrictions on picaridin. Thus, it appears that picaridin is safer than DEET. However, due to lack of publicity, many citizens are unaware of this.
Regardless, the best way to repel mosquitoes is through physical methods, such as wearing long sleeves and pants, using mosquito nets, and using mosquito swatters. Proper home mosquito prevention involves eliminating damp and stagnant water environments. Aquatic plants at home, corners of kitchens and bathrooms are all breeding grounds for mosquitoes and need regular cleaning.
When purchasing mosquito repellent products, consumers are most concerned about their mosquito-repellent effect. Although many mosquito repellent products claim on their packaging to guarantee mosquito repellency for several hours, the actual effectiveness is influenced by factors such as sweat washing, air circulation, types of mosquitoes, and the hunger level of mosquitoes, making it impossible to have an objectively accurate duration. Moreover, the efficacy of mosquito repellent ingredients does not directly depend on the percentage of the active ingredient. If the mosquito repellent compound includes a stronger adhesive component, it might have a better mosquito-repellent effect than similar products with a higher percentage of the active ingredient.