3 - Insect Repellents

Question 1

There is no scientific evidence that ingesting garlic or vitamin B1 (thiamine) repels insects

Answer 1

True

Question 2

DEET based repellents seem to be less effective in women than in men

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Alcohol ingestion increases the likelihood of being bitten by mosquitos

Answer 3

True

Question 4

DEET is the gold standard of insect repellents

Answer 4

True

Question 5

DEET is a broad spectrum repellent

Answer 5

True

Question 6

The higher the concentration of DEET, the longer-lasting is the protection

Answer 6

True (though efficacy increases only minimally at concentrations over 35%)

Question 7

The duration of efficacy of DEET increases only minimally at concentrations over 35%

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Products with 10-35% DEET provide adequate protection under most conditions

Answer 8

True

Question 9

DEET may be applied directly to skin or clothing

Answer 9

True

Question 10

Applying DEET under clothing increases the risk of percutaneous absorption

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Children over the age of 2 months can safely use up to 30% DEET

Answer 11

True

Question 12

DEET may damage plastics, rayon, spandex, painted and varnished surfaces

Answer 12

True

Question 13

DEET does not damage natural fibres such as wool or cotton

Answer 13

True

Question 14

The efficacy of DEET and sunscreen product when applied sequentially may result in a reduction in efficacy of both products

Answer 14

True

Question 15

The reapplication of sunscreen after DEET was applied significantly reduced the protection time of the DEET

Answer 15

True

Question 16

DEET is not mutagenic or oncogenic

Answer 16

True (no evidence of mutagenicity or oncogenicity)

Question 17

There is no developmental, reproductive or neurological toxicity associated with DEET use

Answer 17

True

Question 18

There are no differences in survival, growth or neurological development that could be detected in infants born to mothers who used DEET

Answer 18

True

Question 19

There is no substantial evidence that DEET causes neurotoxicity

Answer 19

True

Question 20

DEET has been associated with bullous contact dermatitis when this has not been subsequently washed off

Answer 20

True

Question 21

DEET is a known eye irritant

Answer 21

True

Question 22

IR3535 is a biopesticide and analogue of the amino acid beta-alanine

Answer 22

True

Question 23

DEET is superior to IR3535

Answer 23

True (higher concentrations of IR3535 do not match DEET)

Question 24

Piperidine (Picaridin) is a biopesticide structurally similar to pepper

Answer 24

True

Question 25

Piperidine (Picaridin) offers comparable efficacy to DEET against mosquitos

Answer 25

True

Question 26

Piperidine (Picaridin) is superior to DEET against ticks

Answer 26

True

Question 27

Piperidine (Picaridin) has no detrimental effects against plastics, unlike DEET

Answer 27

True

Question 28

Piperidine (Picaridin) has low dermal absorption

Answer 28

True

Question 29

Citronella, Bite Blocker, BioUD, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus are plant-derived repellents

Answer 29

True

Question 30

Citronella (plant-derived repellent) is less effective than DEET

Answer 30

True (shorter protection time than DEET)

Question 31

Citronella (plant-derived repellent) provides the shortest protection time as compared to other repellents

Answer 31

True

Question 32

Citronella candles and plants (plant-derived repellent) offer no significant protection against mosquito bites

Answer 32

True

Question 33

Bite Blocker (plant-derived repellent) combines soybean oil, geranium oil and castor oil

Answer 33

True

Question 34

Bite Blocker and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus based repellents appear to be the most efficacious of the botanical repellents

Answer 34

True

Question 35

Some consumers may object to the odour of Bite Blocker and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus based repellents

Answer 35

True (although these appear to be the most efficacious botanical repellents)

Question 36

BioUD (plant-derived repellent) is isolated from wild tomato

Answer 36

True

Question 37

BioUD (plant-derived repellent) is more effective than DEET for some species of ticks

Answer 37

True

Question 38

Oil of the Lemon Eucalyptus based repellents evaporate more slowly from the skin surface than Citronella and offers longer lasting protection

Answer 38

True

Question 39

DEET and Oil of the Lemon Eucalyptus based repellents may cause significant eye irritation

Answer 39

True

Question 40

Oil of the Lemon Eucalyptus based repellents should be avoided in children under the age of 3

Answer 40

True

Question 41

BioUD (plant-derived repellent) isolated from wild tomato shows promise as an effective alternative to DEET in repelling both mosquitos and ticks

Answer 41

True

Question 42

Permethrin (Lyclear) is a man-made synthetic pyrethroid

Answer 42

True

Question 43

Pyrethrum is a powerful rapidly acting insecticide originally derived from crushed dried Crysanthemum

Answer 43

True

Question 44

Permethrin is used as a contact insecticide leading to nervous system toxicity and death of the insect

Answer 44

True (not an insect repellent)

Question 45

Permethrin has low mamalian toxicity

Answer 45

True

Question 46

Permethrin is poorly absorbed by the skin

Answer 46

True

Question 47

Permethrin is rapidly metabolised by skin and blood esterases

Answer 47

True

Question 48

Permethrin is not applied directly to skin when used as an insect repellent

Answer 48

True (applied directly on clothing or other fabrics but not directly to skin)

Question 49

Direct application of permethrin to skin can cause stinging and burning

Answer 49

True

Question 50

Permethrin maintains its potency for 2 weeks even through several launderings

Answer 50

True

Question 51

The combination of permethrin-treated clothing and skin application of DEET creates an excellent barrier against biting insects including mosquitos and ticks

Answer 51

True

Question 52

Permethrin sprayed clothing is very effective against ticks

Answer 52

True

Question 53

Immediate type reactions (type I hypersensitivity) from insect bites are mediated by IgE, IgG and histamine

Answer 53

True

Question 54

Delayed bite reaction (type IV hypersensitivity) are mediated by cell-mediated immunity

Answer 54

True

Question 55

After Bite is an ammonium solution found to reduce the type I hypersensitivity symptoms associated with mosquito bites

Answer 55

True