DEET


 * //N//,//N//-Diethyl-//meta//-toluamide **, abbreviated ** DEET ** , is a slightly yellow oil. It is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents . It is intended to be applied to the skin or to clothing , and provides protection against tick bites, mosquito bites, chiggers , and other insects that can transmit disease

Slightly harmful effects, toxicity to coldwater fish such as rainbow fish or trout..
 * Concentrations:** In insect repellents, DEET comes in different concentrations. 100% DEET is the most concentrated form and can last up to 12 hours when applied to skin. Most insect repellents come in 20-35% concentrations and lasts 3-6 hours when applied to skin. The Center for Disease Control recommends concentrations of 30% to 50% to help eliminate diseases spread by insect bites.
 * How it works:** In mosquitos, according to recent studies, DEET disrupts the olfactory receptor neurons which makes the mosquitos not want to land on the subject.

Off! Insect Repellent DEET is found in a variety of commercial insecticides. Trade names for products containing DEET include Autan, Delphene, Detamide, Deltamid, Flypel, m- Delphene, Meta-Delphene, Naugatuck Det, and Off. There are 53 registrants of DEET-containing insect repellents.


 * Side Effects of DEET:** There are four ways that people can be exposed to chemicals: contacting their skin, contacting their eyes, breathing them in, or eating them. When products containing DEET get into the eyes, they may cause irritation, pain and watery eyes. People that have left DEET products on their skin for extended periods of time have experienced irritation, redness, a rash, and swelling. DEET is often used directly on skin. DEET may also be inhaled when sprays are used around the body and in indoor spaces where the vapors can remain for some time. It may also be possible to swallow DEET if the hands are not washed after using DEET on skin. People that have swallowed products containing DEET have experienced stomach upset, vomiting, and nausea. People have had adverse reactions to DEET when they applied it to parts of their body that contacted other skin surfaces, and when they applied it to skin that was under clothing. Very rarely, exposure to DEET has been associated with seizures in people. Most of these reactions have happened after drinking products with DEET in them or using the products in ways that do not follow label directions.

DEET is considered responsible for side effects including rashes, muscle twitching,confusion, slurred speech, seizures and even death. Most poison reactions to DEET probably go undetected even though nearly 5,000 DEET-related cases are reported each year to the National Centers for Poison Control.

History: It was developed and patented by the U. S. Army in 1946 for use by military personnel in insect-infested areas. Since DEET was recognized as one of the few products effective against mosquitoes and biting flies, it was registered for use by the general public in the U.S. in 1957.
 * Caution:** DEET is a solvent which can be used to remove paint or varnish. High concentrated DEET, when spilled on synthetic fabrics such as nylon or polyester, can dissolve that fiber.

Physical Properties:

 * ~ CAS #: || 134-62-3 ||
 * ~ Chemical name: || N,N-diethyl-3-methyl-benzamide or N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide ||
 * ~ Chemical Class/Use: || insect repellent ||
 * ~ Specific gravity: || 0.996 @ 25[ring] C (6) ||
 * ~ Solubility in water: || practically insoluble in water (1, 6) ||
 * ~ Solubility in other solvents: || Soluble in ethanol, ether, isopropanol, chloroform, carbon disulfide, alcohol, benzene, propylene glycol, cotonseed oil, ketones, petroleum distillates; sparingly soluble in petroleum ether and glycerin (1, 6) ||
 * ~ Boiling point: || 111[ring] C at 1 torr (1); 111[ring] C at 1.3 mbar (5); 320[ring] F (160[ring] C) at 19 mmHg (6) ||
 * ~ Vapor pressure: || 0.0019 mmHg @ 160[ring] C (6) ||