Health and safety forum

Many will know that a good insect repellant is DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide).

But, less know that the concentration of DEET needs to be strong, and applied frequently.

A new insect repellant has been developed that is more user friendly than DEET: Icaridin.

Wikipedia reports on both DEET and Icaridin.

Icaridin is sold as Picaridin.

To date, Picaridin is not currently available in the US (wouldn't have anything to do with a German company developing the product would it?).

Research shows that Picaridin appears to be more user friendly and as good (if not better) than DEET. Refer:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PDG/is_1_3/ai_113650073/

In Australia, for example, DEET is being phased out for Picaridin.

Over time, it is expected that Picaridin will replace DEET as the active ingredient in insect repellants available in Asia.

Be aware that Picaridin needs to be present as at least 20% to be fully effective in tropical climes.

Cheers