Uses of DEET
DEET has a molecular formula of C12H17NO. The chemical name of DEET is N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide but it is commonly called DEET. DEET is an active ingredient present in insect repellants. It is used to prevent bites from mosquitoes, ticks and other biting insects. DEET is a colorless liquid with a faint odor. DEET was first developed in 1946 by the United States army for protection against insect-infested areas. DEET is now one of the most widely used insect repellents because approximately 230 products contain DEET, including liquid sprays sticks and lotions. DEET can be applied directly to human skin, clothes and tents. The concentration levels of DEET vary from product to product. In some sprays, the concentration of DEET is 100% which means it will offer up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitoes and other biting insects. Products that contain about 35% of DEET will only offer about 4 to 6 hours of protection since there is a lower amount of concentration. Since DEET is not soluble in water, it is considered as a good ingredient for insect repellants because it can be applied to the skin and it will last even if an individual participates in water activities or comes in contact with water. DEET works by targeting the receptors on the mosquito’s antennae. Mosquitoes bite humans by detecting their body heat, the carbon dioxide they exhale and a variety of chemicals the human body excretes on the skin. One of the most important chemical the human body releases is lactic acid. Some mosquitos antennas are extremely attracted to lactic acid which causes them to bite humans. DEET turns off those receptors, so the nerves connected to them simply don’t fire. The shutdown of the lactic acid receptors by DEET causes the mosquitos to become blind to the human presence.
