UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

FEB Jl 201Z 

MEMORANDUM 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POU.UTION PREVENTION 

SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: DEET (080301) 

FROM: 

THRU: 

David Brassard, Senior Entomologist 

Biological Analysis Branch 

/ 

Cynthia Doucoure, Environmental Protection Specialist . 'l...fol:..wo.c:o--

Science Information and Analysis Branch 

Economic 

Andrew Lee, 

Analysis 

Economist 

Branch ~~- Biological and Economic Analysis Divisi (7503P) 

Amet Jones, Chief ~ ~ \l»ff~~ Biological Analysis Branch ~/Aj 

Diann Sims, Chief J/Jtu,"'#"'---t::...a-~"Y"-- Science lnformation~Analysis Br ch 

Timothy 

Economic 

Kiely, 

Analysis 

Chief 

Branch \.:\.) 

4 _ lM.. .... ~ 

Biological and Economic AnalyslS Division 03P) 

TO: Susan Bartow, Chemical Review Manager 4 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 

Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

Product Review Panel date: February 22, 2012 

INTRODUCTION 

The purpose of this document is to convey usage information and a broad overview of the pest 

management roles of pesticides that are beginning to undergo registration review. The 

anticipated audience consists of the team of EPA staff currently evaluating the registration status 

of DEET, and eventually the general public. This document builds upon the data already 

provided in the "Usage and Label Use Data Packages" that are also provided to Registration 
Review teams by BEAD. The document is based on information and data available to BEAD as 

of February 16, 2012. 

DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is a broad spectrum insect and tick repellent used on the 

human body and clothing and horses. DEET is used to repel biting flies, biting midges, black 

flies, chiggers, deer flies, fleas, gnats, horse flies, mosquitoes, no-see-urns, sand flies, stable flies, 

and ticks. DEET was registered in the United States in 1957 for use by the general public after 

first being developed by the U.S. Army in 1946 for use by military personnel in insect-infested 

areas (EPA, 1998). 

USE SITES 

Agricultural Use Sites 

DEET is not registered for any agricultural uses. 

Non-Agricultural Use Sites 

DEET is registered for use on the following sites: horses (animal treatment); and human skin, 

hair, clothing, footwear, shoes, and headgear (caps). 

COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

DEET is formulated as microencapsulated, pressurized spray (aerosol), impregnated materials 

(e.g. towelettes, roll-on), and ready-to-use solution (non aerosol pump sprays, liquids, creams, 

lotions. or foams). DEET product concentrations range from 4% a.i. to 100% a.i. DEET is 

typically applied directly to clothing, hair, or human skin using aerosol sprays, non-aerosol 

sprays, creams, lotions, roll-ons, foams, and towelettes. Several DEET Products are also 

formulated with sunscreen. 

USAGE 

Non-Agricultural 

Available data on DEET show that it accounted for the overwhelming majority of insect 

repellents used in the U.S. in 2005, 2009, and 2012 according to private market research surveys 

(Table 1.) About 30% of the U.S. population uses DEET annually as an insect repellent (EPA, 

1998). 

T a e bl 1 DEETU sagem . th e us .. Active Ingredient 2005 2009 2011 

Million lb Million lb Million lb 

DEET 7.7 6.8 9.2 

Source: Kline & Company, 2006,2010, and 2012 

Page 2 of3 
BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELEVANT TO DEET 

The use of effective insect repellents such as DEET provides certain public health benefits. 

Application ofDEET insect repellents to the skin and clothing can help prevent bites from 

mosquitoes, ticks and other biting insects that may vector diseases such as Lyme disease, West 

Nile virus, malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, and encephalitis. 

HISTORY OF BEAD ASSESSMENTS FOR DEET 

No BEAD assessments on DEET have been conducted. 

INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USEFUL FOR BEAD'S FUTURE WORK ON 

DEET 

Obtaining additional information on current usage data for DEET in terms of pounds a.i. applied 

and use rates would improve future BEAD assessments of the importance of DEET and may be 

required as part of the registration review of this pesticide. 

REFERENCES 

U.S. EPA. 1998. EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED). United States Environmental 

Protection Agency, Washington DC 20460. http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrdl/REDs/0002red.pdf 

Kline & Co., 2006, 2010, 2012 

Page 3 of3