Distribution and fate of the insect repellent 14C-N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide in the animal body. II. Distribution and excretion after cutaneous application.

The tissue distribution of 14C-labelled N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), a widely used mosquito repellent, was studied by means of whole-body autoradiography after cutaneous application to mice. The early picture was very similar to that previously observed after intravenous injection of the substance, with high concentration of radioactivity mainly in the lacrimal gland, liver, bile, intestinal contents, kidney, urine, and nasal mucosa. Urinary excretion in mice was highest early after application whereas in a human volunteer maximal excretion appeared only after several hours. In mice a low but significant excretion persisted throughout the observation time of one month, probably emanating from the considerable amount of radioactivity remaining in the smeared skin area, as observed both autoradiographically and by means of quantitative measurements.