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Health Santé General Use Information for Personal Choosing A Product ® Citronella and lavender: Registered Updated Information on Using Insect
Canada Canada products containing citronella protect people
Insect Repellents against mosquito bites from 30 minutes to two Repellents that Contain DEET
® Choose a product that meets your needs.
For example, if you plan to be outdoors for a hours. The registered lavender product repels
® Always read the entire label carefully before mosquitoes for approximately 30 minutes. The following safety tips are based on the
Pest Note Pest Note Pest Note Pest Note Pest Note Pest Note Pest Note Pest Note
short period of time, choose a product with a
using. These products cannot be used on infants and PMRA’s re-evaluation of DEET. This re-
lower concentration of repellent and repeat
® Apply the repellent sparingly, and only on toddlers under two years of age. Based on evaluation involved a comprehensive review of
application only if you need a longer protection
Safety
exposed skin surfaces or on top of clothing. Do animal studies, citronella-based products the scientific data supporting its registration
time.
not use under clothing. Heavy application and appear to be potential skin sensitizers. using the latest health protection standards,
® Use only personal insect repellents that are
saturation are unnecessary for effectiveness. Therefore, allergic reactions may occur in some including special protection for children. The
registered in Canada. They have a registration
Repeat applications only as necessary. individuals. new use guidelines for using DEET on children
number granted under the Pest Control
® Do not get in eyes. If you do get repellent in Products containing citronella and lavender are were developed in consultation with the
Products Act and are labelled as insect
Tips on your eyes, rinse immediately with water.
® Do not use the repellent on open wounds, or
if your skin is irritated or sunburned.
® Avoid breathing spray mists and never apply
repellents for use on humans. Never use a
product labelled as an insecticide on your
body.
currently under re-evaluation by the PMRA.
Re-evaluations involve a comprehensive review
of the scientific data that support the registration
of a pesticide using modern health protection
Canadian Paediatric Society.
For a complete explanation of the DEET re-
evaluation process and its conclusions, please
sprays inside a tent. Use only in well-ventilated refer to Re-evaluation Decision Document
Using
There are five different active ingredients found standards.
areas. Do not use near food. in registered personal insect repellents in ® DEET: Using the latest health protection RRD2002-01 Personal insect repellents
® Wash treated skin with standards, DEET was re-evaluated in 2001 to containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide
Canada. The active ingredient, its
soap and water when you concentration, protection times and use ensure continued acceptable use and extra and related compounds).
return indoors or when instructions are all listed on each product label. protection for children. DEET-based repellents
Personal protection is no longer
needed.
® Keep all insect repellent
containers out of the reach of
If using a product containing DEET, please
consult the new use guidelines in the next
section of this Fact Sheet.
® P-menthane 3,8-diol: A product containing
at various concentrations offer different
protection times. Examples of protection times
based on DEET concentration are as follows:
Children under 6 months of age
® DO NOT use personal insect repellents
containing DEET on infants. (Advice
unchanged)
children.
Insect
this active ingredient was recently registered in
® Always supervise the application on children. Concentration Protection time Children aged 6 months to 2 years
Canada and thus meets all the modern safety
® Avoid applying repellent to children’s hands of DEET (approximate) ® In situations where a high
standards. It provides up to two hours of
to reduce the chance of getting the repellent in protection against mosquitoes. This product risk of complications from
their eyes and mouths. cannot be used on children under three years of 30% 6 hours insect bites exist, the use of
Repellents
® If you suspect that you or your child are one application per day of
age.
reacting to an insect repellent, stop using the ® Soybean oil: Registered products containing 15% 5 hours DEET may be considered
product immediately, wash treated skin and soybean oil provide between one to 3.5 hours for this age group.
seek medical attention. When you go to the 10% 3 hours ® The least concentrated product (10%
of protection against mosquitoes, depending on
doctor, take the product container with you. the product. Products containing soybean oil DEET or less) should be used. (New
® If you are concerned that you are sensitive to 5% 2 hours advice.)
were recently registered and thus meet all the
a product, apply the product to a small area of ® The product should be applied sparingly and
modern safety standards.
skin on your arm and wait 24 hours to see if a not be applied to the face and hands.
April 2003 reaction occurs.
Children between 2-12 years of age Use of Existing Products That Contain should be used solely as insect repellents, and
® The least concentrated product (10% be applied according to the safe practices listed
DEET or less) should be used.
DEET at Concentrations Above 30% above. Since no immediate health concerns with
® Do not apply more than three times per DEET/sunscreen products were identified during
Since no immediate health concerns were the re-evaluation of DEET, retail sales of such
day. (New advice) Do not apply to the face
identified during the re-evaluation of DEET, products can continue until December 31, 2003.
and hands. retail sales of products that contain DEET at Any such products that you still have may be
® Prolonged use should be avoided. concentrations above 30% can continue until used as directed above, or disposed of as
December 31, 2004. This phase-out will allow directed for products with more than 30%
Adults and Individuals 12 Years of Age or Older: existing products to be used up, thereby DEET.
® Products containing DEET at preventing disposal problems. If you have any
concentrations above 30% will no longer concerns regarding higher-concentration DEET
be acceptable for registration, based on a products (cream, liquid or pump spray) you have
human health risk assessment that around the home, you can dispose of them with
considered daily application of DEET over your regular household garbage. Consult
municipal authorities concerning the disposal of
a prolonged period of time. Studies show
aerosol sprays. Otherwise, you may continue to
that products with lower concentrations of
use any products you have that contain a greater
DEET are as effective as the high than 30% concentration of DEET
concentration products, but they remain so on adults or children 12 years of age
for shorter periods of time. Products or older, occasionally and according
containing no more than a 30% to label directions (i.e., apply
concentration of DEET will provide adults sparingly and only as required).
with sufficient protection. (New advice) These products should not be used
for a prolonged period of time (e.g.,
Re-apply after these protection time have daily use for several weeks).
elapsed if necessary.
Products Containing DEET and Sunscreens
Note: There is no indication that there is a hazard
to the unborn or nursing child associated with the Some personal insect repellent products contain
use of DEET by pregnant or lactating women. sunscreen compounds. Because of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency
However, there are non-chemical methods to
reduce mosquito bites (e.g., protective clothing,
incompatible label instructions regarding methods 2720 Riverside Drive
of application, i.e., insect repellents should be
avoiding mosquito habitat and times of peak applied sparingly while sunscreens should be Ottawa ON K1A 0K9
mosquito activity) which could be considered. applied liberally and frequently, the insect
repellents/sunscreen combinations products Pest Management Information Service
Telephone: 1-800-267-6315
From outside Canada: (613) 736-3799*
*Long distance charges apply.
ISBN: 0-662-34034-5 Fax: (613) 736-3798
Catalogue Number: H113-1/33-2003E-IN Internet: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pmra-arla
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