Anti-mosquito toxic for nervous system

[Ellipse]

Evidence for inhibition of cholinesterases in insect and mammalian nervous systems by the insect repellent deet

BMC Biology
5 August 2009


Abstract (provisional)

Background

N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (deet) remains the gold standard for insect repellents. About 200 million people use it every year and over 8 billion doses have been applied over the past 50 years. Despite the widespread and increased interest in the use of deetin public health programmes, controversies remain concerning both the identification of its target sites at the olfactory system and its mechanism of toxicity in insects, mammals and humans. Here, we investigated the molecular target site for deet and the consequences of its interactions with carbamate insecticides on the cholinergic system.

Results

By using toxicological, biochemical and electrophysiological techniques, we show that deet is not simply a behaviour-modifying chemical but that it also inhibits cholinesterase activity, in both insect and mammalian neuronal preparations. Deet is commonly used in combination with insecticides and we show that deet has the capacity to strengthen the toxicity of carbamates, a class of insecticides known to block acetylcholinesterase.

Conclusion

These findings question the safety of deet, particularly in combination with other chemicals, and they highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the development of safer insect repellents for use in public health.

The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production: http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1741-7007-7-47.pdf


http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/7/47/abstract

 

[Beorn]

The village where my wife is from in central Java have had mosquito spraying all over the place including in each persons home. Many of them have subsequently become temporarily paralyzed for up to 10 days!

A similiar report to the one above was in the news today.

[quote author=The West Australian] "We've found that DEET is not simply a behaviour-modifying chemical but also inhibits the activity of a key central nervous system enzyme, acetylcholinesterase, in both insects and mammals..."[/quote]

And what is the response from the health department?
[quote author=The West Australian] Dr Mike Lindsay, from the Health Department environmental health hazard branch, said though it was important to have continuing research into the safety of chemicals, he was confident that DEET was safe in humans.[/quote]

So let me get this straight, studies show it affects brain function and the central nervous system, but it's ok to use because he says it is?