DEET effectiveness demo

Summary

The video demonstrates a test of a 15% DEET-based mosquito repellent. The presenter compares a treated hand with an untreated control hand, showing how the treated hand remains largely unaffected by mosquito bites for the first 30 seconds, while the untreated hand is quickly targeted. After about a minute, the repellent's effectiveness begins to wear off, particularly around the fingers. The video emphasizes the importance of applying the repellent to exposed skin, rather than clothes, to ensure optimal protection from mosquitoes.

Takeaways

• 😀 The demonstration compares the effectiveness of a repellent (L gen 15% DE) on one treated hand versus an untreated control hand.
• 😀 Mosquitoes begin biting both hands shortly after the demonstration starts.
• 😀 The test is conducted for 1 minute and 30 seconds to show the repellent's effectiveness over time.
• 😀 By 30 seconds into the test, the untreated hand begins to experience more mosquito activity.
• 😀 The treated hand shows much less mosquito activity compared to the untreated one.
• 😀 After about 7-8 seconds, the treated hand begins to show noticeable protection against mosquitoes.
• 😀 There are still mosquitoes landing on the treated hand, but they do not remain long enough to bite.
• 😀 The repellent's effect appears to weaken around the finger areas of the treated hand after a short time.
• 😀 The person demonstrates that the repellent needs to be applied to exposed skin for effectiveness.
• 😀 Spraying DEET-based products on clothing does not provide the same level of mosquito protection as applying it directly to the skin.
• 😀 The demonstration emphasizes that applying DEET on exposed skin is more effective than applying it to clothes, as mosquitoes continue to bite areas where the repellent is not directly applied.

Q & A

What is being tested in the video?

The video tests the effectiveness of a 15% DEET mosquito repellent on the skin compared to an untreated control hand.

What does the video demonstrate with the treated and untreated hands?

The video demonstrates how mosquitoes bite the untreated control hand while being repelled by the treated hand, showing the effectiveness of the repellent.

How long does the test run, and why is this time frame chosen?

The test runs for 1 minute and 30 seconds, which is deemed enough time to observe the mosquito activity and prove the effectiveness of the repellent.

What happens after 30 seconds in the test?

After 30 seconds, the mosquitoes begin to land on and bite the untreated control hand, while the treated hand still shows minimal mosquito activity.

What observation is made around the finger area of the treated hand?

It is noted that the repellent begins to wear off around the finger area of the treated hand, allowing mosquitoes to start landing there.

What is demonstrated by spraying the repellent inside the purple mark on the hand?

Spraying the repellent inside the purple mark shows that applying DEET to exposed skin is necessary for the repellent to work, as it doesn’t repel mosquitoes effectively on clothing.

What is the significance of the mosquitoes still biting the control hand?

The continuous biting of the control hand illustrates the mosquitoes' attraction to untreated skin, highlighting the need for repellent to prevent bites.

Why does the speaker mention that spraying DEET on clothes is ineffective?

The speaker emphasizes that DEET-containing products should be applied directly to exposed skin, as they do not work well on clothing, where mosquitoes can still land and bite.

How does the effectiveness of the repellent vary throughout the test?

The repellent remains effective for most of the test, but its effectiveness diminishes around the finger area, where mosquitoes begin to bite after some time.

What overall conclusion can be drawn from this experiment?

The experiment demonstrates that a 15% DEET repellent is effective in preventing mosquito bites on exposed skin but has limitations in areas where the repellent wears off or isn't applied properly.