Table
1. Protection Times of Insect Repellents.*
Source: New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 347, No.
1, July 4, 2002; www.nejm.org
|
PRODUCT
|
ACTIVE
INGREDIENT AND CONCENTRATION
|
COMPLETE-PROTECTION TIME (MINUTES) |
|
|
MEAN
|
RANGE
|
||
| OFF! Deep Woods (SC Johnson) | DEET, 23.8% |
301.5
± 37.6
|
200-300
|
| Sawyer Controlled Release (Sawyer) | DEET, 20% |
234.4
± 31.8
|
180-325
|
| OFF! Skintastic (SC Johnson) | DEET, 6.65% |
112.4
± 20.3
|
90-170
|
| Bite Blocker for Kids (HOMS) | Soybean oil, 2% |
94.6 ± 42.0
|
16-195
|
| OFF! Skintastic for Kids (SC Johnson) | DEET, 4.75% |
88.4 ± 21.4
|
45-120
|
| Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard Plus (Avon) | IR 3535, 7.5% |
22.9
± 11.2
|
10-60
†
|
| Natrapel (Tender) | Citronella, 10% |
19.7
± 10.6
|
7-60
†
|
| Herbal Armor (microencapsulated) (All Terrain) | Citronella, 12%; peppermint oil 2.5%; cedar oil, 2%; lemongrass oil, 1%; geranium oil, 0.05% |
18.9
± 13.3
|
1-55
§
|
| Green Ban for People (Mulgum Hollow Farm) | Citronella, 10%; peppermint oil, 2% |
14.0
± 11.3
|
1-45
|
| Buzz Away (Quantum) | Citronella, 5% |
13.5
± 7.5
|
5-30
|
| Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard (Avon) | Citronella, 0.1% |
10.3
± 7.9
|
1-30
|
| Skin So-Soft Bath Oil (Avon) | Uncertain ¶ |
9.6
± 8.8
|
1-30
|
| Skin So-Soft Moisturizing Suncare (Avon) | Citronella, 0.05% |
2.8
± 3.4
|
1-15
|
| Gone Original Wristband (Solar Gloooow) | DEET, 9.5% |
0.3
± 0.2
|
0.17
- 0.63
|
| Repello Wristband (Repello Products) | DEET, 9.5% |
0.2
± 0.08
|
0.17-0.63
|
| Gone Plus Repelling Wristband (Solar Gloooow) | Citronella, 25% |
0.2
± 0.09
|
0.17
- 0.48
|
* Plus-minus values are
the means ± SD of the times to the first bite in the tests of all 15 subjects.
DEET denotes N,N-diethyl-3- methylbenzamide (formerly known as N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide),
HOMS Home Operations and Management Systems, and IR3535 ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate.
† The mean complete-protection time of each repellent was significantly different
(P<0.05 by analysis of variance and Tukey's tests) from those of all repellents
in different categories (levels) of protection.
± The complete-protection time also differed significantly from those of Buzz
Away, Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard, and Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil.
§ The complete-protection time also differed significantly from those of Skin-So-Soft
Bug Guard and Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil.
¶ This product contains mineral oil, isopropyl palmitate, dicapryl adipate,
fragrance, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, butylated hydroxytoluene, and carrot
oil.
This page last modified on
January 21, 2004